Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · 4-year

Compare with another college →

Saved colleges stay in your list across these pages; sign in whenever you want them in your account. A saved category is a planning placeholder, not an admission prediction.

Sources and reporting periods

Reporting periods: Admission counts and rate: IPEDS Admissions component, fall 2023 entering class. Graduation rate: IPEDS Graduation Rates component, six-year cohort. Score, cost, aid and earnings fields: historical imports without a retained reporting year. Source-check dates on policy notes do not date the statistical fields.

Federal sources: NCES IPEDS and College Scorecard. Covered cohorts differ; a net-price average is not an individual aid offer. Definitions, coverage and limitations.

Compiled by Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC using automated data processing and source checks. Report a correction with the institution ID, field and official source link.

Testing policy

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

No current testing-policy source review is available for this campus.

Application deadlines · countdown

Add to my calendar

Working backwards from the first application deadline: ask for recommendations by Sep 6 (start now), first essay draft by Sep 20 (start now), lock final essay by Oct 18, submit by Oct 29.

Recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and shown on this year's calendar; confirm on the official admissions and aid pages. Save this college and the dates join your plan and Sunday note.

Iowa State University reported a 89.1% acceptance rate for the fall 2023 entering class. Iowa State University is a public 4-year institution in Ames, IA, with an SAT reference of 1250 and an ACT reference of 24. The historical average net price is $18,589 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Reporting years vary by field; historical averages describe past cohorts. Review data limitations.

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance Rate

89.1%

22,995 applicants

SAT reference

1250

Combined score

ACT reference

24

Composite score

Avg Net Price

$18,589

After financial aid

SAT & ACT Scores at Iowa State University

Historical score references from imported federal records for enrolled first-year score submitters. The SAT total references are a sum of section values, not observed total-score percentiles. The reference midpoint column is not a verified median, and none of these values is an admission cutoff. Reporting years are unavailable for these fields.

Test25th percentileReference midpoint75th percentile
SAT (total, 400–1600)111012501360
ACT (composite, 1–36)212428

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

75.4%

Six-year rate, IPEDS cohort

Retention Rate

87.6%

Median Earnings (10yr)

$63,386

Student Body

25,367

Net Price by Family Income

Historical averages for the source's covered student cohorts at Iowa State University, not personal aid offers. Residency and eligibility matter; reporting years are unavailable for these imported fields.

Family IncomeAvg Net Price/Year
$0 – $30,000$10,582
$30,001 – $48,000$11,506
$48,001 – $75,000$15,463
$75,001 – $110,000$19,605
$110,000+$22,496

Top Majors at Iowa State University

MajorDegrees Awarded
Engineering1,234
Business, Management & Marketing994
Agriculture & Natural Resources626
Biological & Biomedical Sciences354
Visual & Performing Arts267
Computer & Information Sciences264
Parks, Recreation & Fitness234
Education213
Psychology204
Communication & Journalism180

Financial Aid at Iowa State University

About Iowa State University

Official website: https://www.iastate.edu/

Admissions: https://www.iastate.edu/admission-and-aid/admissions

Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa State University

What is the acceptance rate at Iowa State University?

Iowa State University reported a 89% acceptance rate to IPEDS for the fall 2023 entering class. the reported applicant count is about 22,995. It describes a past campus applicant pool, not an individual admission probability or admission to a particular major.

How hard is it to get into Iowa State University?

The historical 89% acceptance rate suggests Iowa State University was less selective at the campus level in the stored data. Selectivity can differ by year, major, residency and applicant type. Admit Coach's reach, target and safety labels are heuristic research aids, not validated personal probabilities or admission guarantees.

What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Iowa State University?

The imported historical records for Iowa State University include an SAT reference value of 1250 and an ACT reference value of 24. Reference values may be derived from reported score ranges; they are not verified medians or required cutoffs. Federal score ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Verify current testing requirements on the college's official admissions page.

How much does it cost to attend Iowa State University?

The stored historical average net price at Iowa State University is $18,589 per year after grants and scholarships for the source's covered cohort. the stored share receiving aid is about 89%; the stored average grant or scholarship is $10,718 per year. Reporting years and populations may differ. This is not your aid offer; public-college averages may cover in-state students. Use the official net-price calculator with your household details.

What is the graduation rate at Iowa State University?

The six-year graduation rate reported to IPEDS for Iowa State University is 75%. its stored first-year retention rate is 88%; stored median earnings 10 years after enrollment are $63,386. These measures describe past source cohorts, not the current student body, and do not predict an individual student's outcomes.

Is Iowa State University test-optional?

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

When is the application deadline for Iowa State University?

Iowa State University's recorded application deadlines, shown on this cycle's calendar, are Early Action on November 1, 2026. Aid deadlines: FAFSA June 30. These were recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and dates can change; confirm on Iowa State University's official admissions page. Admit Coach's Deadline Radar counts down to each date and adds them to your calendar.

Similar Colleges

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · 80% acceptance

Beth Medrash of Asbury Park

Lakewood, NJ · 42% acceptance

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC · 75% acceptance

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, TN · 59% acceptance

University of Providence

Great Falls, MT · 64% acceptance

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, GA · 72% acceptance

More Colleges in IA

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · 11% acceptance

Drake University

Des Moines, IA · 64% acceptance

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Ankeny, IA · 50% acceptance

Luther College

Decorah, IA · 73% acceptance

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA · 71% acceptance

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA · 81% acceptance

Explore More

All colleges in this state · Chance calculator · How many colleges to apply · All 3,500+ universities · Most affordable colleges · Best value colleges · Test-optional colleges · Engineering programs · Computer science programs · Highest graduation rates · Compare planning tools

Check Your Admission Chances at Iowa State University — Free