Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (89% and 88%).
$40 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
Iowa applicants were admitted at 92%, applicants from other states at 91%, and international applicants at 65%.
All applicants in the same class: 88%
Of those admitted, 59% from Iowa enrolled, against 20% from other states and 6.8% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
28% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How Iowa State reads a record
and GPA are both very important; tests are important; class rank is considered. 58% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are required. 12% of first-years sent an SAT and 45% an ACT. Recommends 4 years of social studies and 3 of foreign language. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
80% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 88% of first-year applicants
2,757 applied · 2,206 admitted · 1,351 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Summer entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended for some
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within a set number of weeks if admitted later.
- $125 housing deposit, due September 1, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | – | 3 |
| Social studies | – | 4 |
| Total | 10* | 19* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
Recent change: Requires the SAT or ACT again, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.76
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.031%
- 3.75–3.9927%
- 3.50–3.7418%
- 3.25–3.4911%
- 3.00–3.247%
- below 3.06%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 30.9% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 26.8% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 18.2% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 11.3% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 7.3% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 5.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.4% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.1% |
Source:Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1260 on the SAT, 90 points above the median for colleges that report scores. It requires SAT or ACT scores again from students entering in fall 2027.
Required
Send SAT or ACT scores: they're required to be considered. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
These scores are from the class that entered in fall 2025, before the change.
Score bands
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
24% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
17% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 12% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 45% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
744 studentssubmitted ACT
2,770 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Iowa State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)