Quad

Iowa State University

Ames, IAQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forBig campusTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 24,625 applied (fall 2024: 23,095)Iowa State University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 21,652 admits (fall 2024: 20,475)Iowa State University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 88% admitted (fall 2024: 89%)Iowa State University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 580–680 (fall 2024: 560–670)Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 570–690 (fall 2024: 560–690)Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2027 applicants: Test scores required (fall 2024: Test-optional)Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: 26,073 undergraduates (fall 2024: 25,367)Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 89% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 88%)Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Iowa State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (88%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 27% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

88%

88%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

24,625

Admitted

21,652

Yield

28%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.76

SAT middle 50%

1153–1360

10001600
ACT middle 50%

21–28

1836
Applications +26% since fall 2014 · admit rate 87% → 89%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 26,073 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

26.1K

undergrads · larger than 97% of colleges

Diversity index

0.41

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

20%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Twelve ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.40 → 0.43 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Mechanical Engineering (6% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 84% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,347 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

Most popular major

Mechanical Engineering

6% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$105.8K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

84%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$12.3K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $23,986 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), about the national median. The 77% who received grants paid $17,779 on average; the other 23% paid the full sticker price of $24,204 in-state / $41,390 out-of-state.

26%

$24K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · about the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$24,204 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
43% · avg $9K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 26% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,386 ten years after enrolling, more than at 74% of colleges; 74% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

74%

74%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.9K

≈ $242/month for 10 years

Retention

89%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 69% → 75% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 2% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 2%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 26% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 87% to 89%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +26%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 87% → 89% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.40 → 0.43 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Iowa

84% admit · SAT 1230 · 22.3K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Midwest
Compare side-by-side

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

89% admit · 25.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side

Boise State University

87% admit · 17.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

88% admit · SAT 1260 · 29.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Iowa State University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    State laws on public colleges

    State legislatures (statutes read and summarized by hand) · In effect since July 1, 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-04

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Iowa State University (2026)

    Iowa State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 153603 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything