Chances of getting into Iowa State University
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Difficult | |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
How hard is it to get into ISU and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at ISU is 88%. It ranks #27 in Iowa for lowest rate of acceptance. Iowa State University is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 17,882 out of 20,223 applicants were admitted.
The school has difficult admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 51 percent (SAT 1010/1310 ACT 21/28). Iowa State University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.71. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 28% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The ISU application fee is $40 and applications are due by Jul 1.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. Iowa State University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
ISU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 480 |
| SAT Math 25th | 530 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1010 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 630 |
| SAT Math 75th | 680 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1310 |
| Average SAT Score | 1160 |
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 prefers applicants to be in the top 59 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1010 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 860. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1160 out of 1600. ISU ranks #7 in Iowa for highest average SAT composite score. 19 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1310 and Above | Good | >93% |
| 1160 to 1310 | Avg + | 88%-93% |
| 1010 to 1160 | Avg - | 81%-88% |
| 860 to 1010 | Reach | 72%-81% |
| Less than 860 | Low | <72% |
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Engage with counselors on a personal level to demonstrate your interest in their school and get answers to all of your admissions-related questions.
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ISU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 21 |
| ACT Math 25th | 21 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 21 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 28 |
| ACT Math 75th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 28 |
| Average ACT Score | 24 |
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 21 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 43 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 18 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 24 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.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 28 and Above | Good | >93% |
| 24 to 28 | Avg + | 88%-93% |
| 21 to 24 | Avg - | 82%-88% |
| 18 to 21 | Reach | 75%-82% |
| Less than 18 | Low | <75% |
Explore Iowa State University
ISU GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into Iowa State University?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into ISU. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Iowa State University was 3.71 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #4 in Iowa for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.71 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as ISU accepts 88% of all applicants.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 24.0% | Good |
| 3.75 to 3.99 | 28.0% | Avg - |
| 3.50 to 3.74 | 20.0% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | 14.0% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | 8.0% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.99 | 5.0% | Reach |
| 2.00 to 2.49 | 1.0% | Low |
| 1.00 to 1.99 | 0% | Low |
| less than 1.00 | 0% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
95% of Iowa State University freshman were in the top half of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 14% |
| Top 25% of class | 28% |
| Top 50% of class | 95% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 9,576 | 10,647 | 20,223 |
| Accepted | 8,483 | 9,399 | 17,882 |
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 88% | 88% |
| Enrolled | 2,321 | 2,750 | 5,071 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 27% | 29% | 28% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 1 days left until the Fall 2022 term applications are due on Jul 1, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Iowa State University is $40.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Iowa State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Considered but not 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 |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153603 IPEDS survey data for Iowa State University.
FAQs
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?
88% 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 1010 and 1310. 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 21 and 28. 86% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.