ISU Admission Requirements
Ames, IowaChances of getting into Iowa State University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
90.6%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Difficult | |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
How hard is it to get into ISU and can I get accepted? The school has a 91% acceptance rate ranking it #26 in Iowa for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 17,082 out of 18,855 applicants were admitted making Iowa State University an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. Academically, it has difficult requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 40 percent. Iowa State University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 35% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesISU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1090-1330Applicants Submitting SAT
19%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 550 |
| SAT Math 25th | 540 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1090 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 680 |
| SAT Math 75th | 650 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1330 |
| Average SAT Score | 1210 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Iowa State University?
Iowa State University typically requires applicants to be in the top 43 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1090 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 970. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1210 out of 1600. The school ranks #5 in Iowa for highest average SAT composite score. 19 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1330 and Above | Good | >95% |
| 1210 to 1330 | Avg + | 91%-95% |
| 1090 to 1210 | Avg - | 86%-91% |
| 970 to 1090 | Reach | 78%-86% |
| Less than 970 | Low | <78% |
ISU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
22-28Applicants Submitting ACT
86%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 21 |
| ACT Math 25th | 22 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 22 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 28 |
| ACT Math 75th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 28 |
| Average ACT Score | 25 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into ISU?
Admission data indicates that ISU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 22 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 37 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 19 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 25 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 28 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #7 in Iowa for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 86 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Iowa State University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 28 and Above | Good | >95% |
| 25 to 28 | Avg + | 91%-95% |
| 22 to 25 | Avg - | 86%-91% |
| 19 to 22 | Reach | 78%-86% |
| Less than 19 | Low | <78% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.6Typical High School Grades
B+You will need very good grades in high school to get into Iowa State University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Iowa State University was 3.6 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #6 in Iowa for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.6 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as ISU accepts 91% of all applicants.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 36% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 22% | Avg + |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 18% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 14% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 9% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
56% of Iowa State University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 26% |
| Top 25% of class | 56% |
| Top 50% of class | 90% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 10% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 13% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 8,638 | 10,217 | 18,855 |
| Accepted | 7,835 | 9,247 | 17,082 |
| Acceptance Rate | 91% | 91% | 91% |
| Enrolled | 2,590 | 3,457 | 6,047 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 33% | 37% | 35% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jul 1, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jul 1, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Iowa State University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153603 IPEDS survey data for Iowa State University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Iowa State University prefer SAT or ACT?
19% of students submit their SAT scores to ISU. 86% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Iowa State University?
91% of those who apply are granted admission to ISU. Admission competition is and the college has difficult admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Iowa State University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1090 and 1330. 19% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Iowa State University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 22 and 28. 86% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
