Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public · Big 12 Conference
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
Iowa State University admitted 87.9% of applicants university-wide (21,652 of 24,625).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 87.9% | 21,652 | 24,625 |
| In-state | 92.1% | 5,452 | 5,921 |
| Out-of-state | 91.1% | 14,133 | 15,521 |
| International applicants | 64.9% | 2,067 | 3,183 |
| Men | 87.6% | 11,530 | 13,165 |
| Women | 88.3% | 10,122 | 11,460 |
Of 21,652 admitted students, 6,160 enrolled (28.5% yield).
Iowa State University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C1–C2 · 2023 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1153–1360
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 21–28
- GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
- 3.50–4.00
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Iowa State University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C9–C12 · 2023 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $44,267/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,578 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $15,689 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $44,267/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $10,582 |
| $30k–48k | $11,506 |
| $48k–75k | $15,463 |
| $75k–110k | $19,605 |
| Over $110k | $22,496 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Iowa State University Merit Scholarship — $4,000 - $12,000 per year (Automatic)
- Legacy Scholarship — $1,000 per year (Other)
- Iowa State University Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- Non-Resident Tuition Award — Varies (Other)
- Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
International applicants
No need-based aid reported for internationals.
- Iowa State University Merit Scholarship — $4,000 - $12,000 per year (Automatic)
- International Merit Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (International Aid)
- Non-Resident Tuition Award — Varies (Other)
- Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
Iowa State University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections G–H · 2023
Application requirements
US applicants
- Application Form
- Application fee
International applicants
- Application Form
- Application fee
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
Iowa State University · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
Iowa State University requires no supplemental essays.
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 4, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $63,386
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 75.3%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 89.1%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $22,869
- At graduation
Iowa State University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- U.S. News National: #117
- WSJ: #141
- Forbes: #146
- Niche: #126
- QS: #449
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Engineering (21%), Business & marketing (20%), Biological & life sciences (6%).
Student–faculty ratio: 19:1 · 31% of class sections have under 20 students.
Iowa State University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections E, F, I · 2023 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.