Ames, IA · Public · 25,367 undergraduates · urban
Iowa State University
Less selective
Iowa State's land-grant strengths remain current through engineering, agriculture, design and emerging digital-agriculture programs.
Institutional profile
Well established Solid in affordability, and solid in career outcomes.- Admission
- 89.1% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 74.5%
22,995 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$63,386 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Iowa State University apart
Academic design
Digital and precision agriculture combines farming systems with data, sensors and emerging technology.
Campus pattern
Ames provides a traditional residential college-town environment centered on a large landscaped campus.
Career & value signal
Midwestern agriculture, manufacturing, engineering and food companies align directly with many programs.
Can I get in?
89.1% admitted
Several College of Design majors use a Core Design year followed by a separate major-selection process.
Recent applicant pool
22,995About 89 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 10% submitted an SAT, and 51% submitted an ACT. Because SAT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.
With one-year access
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Iowa State University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landWith one-year access
What Iowa State University weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Digital and precision agriculture combines farming systems with data, sensors and emerging technology.
Make institutional fit specific
Iowa State's land-grant strengths remain current through engineering, agriculture, design and emerging digital-agriculture programs.
Use the application route carefully
Several College of Design majors use a Core Design year followed by a separate major-selection process.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Several College of Design majors use a Core Design year followed by a separate major-selection process.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
ArchitectureAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Communication and journalismAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
EngineeringAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
Iowa State University publishes three merit awards, the largest under $5,000 a year. No separate scholarship application is required; the college uses the admission application. All of them renew past the first year.
Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year · Has a dated deadline
Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year
Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year
With one-year access
These three awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, what it asks of you, and the date one of them closes - which is usually earlier than the application for admission.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- The deadline
- What to send, and where
With one-year access
Average annual cost by household income at Iowa State University
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Mechanical Engineering
Admits separately
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Admits separately
Marketing
Admits separately
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Psychology, General
What is campus life like?
Iowa State University beyond the classroom
Ames provides a traditional residential college-town environment centered on a large landscaped campus.
A defining academic feature
Digital and precision agriculture combines farming systems with data, sensors and emerging technology.
What shapes an ordinary week
Ames provides a traditional residential college-town environment centered on a large landscaped campus.
Where the degree can lead
Midwestern agriculture, manufacturing, engineering and food companies align directly with many programs.