Iowa State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Iowa State University · Ames, Iowa · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 24,625
- Applicants
- 21,652
- Admitted88%
- 6,160
- Enrolled
- 28%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access88% admittedRanked #116 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #52 (tie), Business Programs #83 (tie), Computer Science #88 (tie), Economics #161 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Iowa State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Iowa State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Iowa State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Iowa State is a public university in Ames, Iowa that admits about 88% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $18,589 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering and Marketing, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 77% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. For the most recent reporting cycle, Iowa State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 88%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1260 and an ACT composite around 25. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,589 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Iowa State?
58% of enrolled students at Iowa State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.76, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Iowa State weight in admissions?
Iowa State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
1- Standardized test scores
Considered
11- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
4- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Iowa State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 595. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–28. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1153 |
| 50th percentile | 1260 |
| 75th percentile | 1360 |
| % submitting SAT | 12% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 25 |
| 75th percentile | 28 |
| % submitting ACT | 45% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional; without scores, admission is based on GPA and core courses. ACT, SAT or CLT accepted.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Iowa State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Iowa State actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,787 for in-state students and $28,881 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,808 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,589 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $9,530 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,578 |
| Room and board | $10,928 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $18,589 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 69% |
| Average need-based grant | $13,100 |
| Average merit award, no financial need2,537 first-year students received one | $8,830 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 53% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $28,851 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Iowa State
| Notification date | 2 days after receipt |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Iowa State?
These predict outcomes at Iowa State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Iowa State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Iowa State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering and Marketing. Across all programs, Iowa State confers roughly 2,323 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $78,149 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 418 | $78,149 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 406 | $88,697 |
| Marketing | 300 | $68,459 |
| Computer Engineering | 295 | $111,313 |
| Animal Sciences | 241 | $55,971 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 225 | $75,665 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 221 | $55,046 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 217 | $61,453 |
Is Iowa State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Iowa State disclosed 61 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 23 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Iowa State?
About 31% of undergraduates at Iowa State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 15% of men join a fraternity and 15% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Iowa parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Iowa State
Common questions parents ask about Iowa State
What GPA do I need for Iowa State?
58% of enrolled students at Iowa State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.76, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Iowa State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 595. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–28.
How much does Iowa State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Iowa State after grants and scholarships is $18,589 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $10,787 and $28,881 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Iowa State realistic for my child?
Iowa State admits 88% of applicants, so 560–690 SAT Math is target range and below 560 is a reach. Then check the $18,589 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa State?
Iowa State accepts about 88% of applicants out of roughly 24,625 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Iowa State test-optional?
Yes. Iowa State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa State?
About 77% of students at Iowa State graduate within six years, and 57% finish in four years. 89% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Iowa State look for in applicants?
Iowa State rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Iowa State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa.
What are the most popular majors at Iowa State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Iowa State by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering and Marketing. The school awards about 2,323 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Iowa State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Iowa State reported 61 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Iowa State?
At Iowa State, 31% of undergraduates live on campus, 15% of men are in fraternities, 15% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Iowa State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers