Iowa State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About Iowa State University

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: Yes

Accreditation: regional

Iowa State University is a large public university located on an urban campus in Ames, Iowa. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,808, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 91%. The university offers 109 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 76%, and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $8,324, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $24,136.

Ames, IA

$8,324

Avg in-state
tuition

$24,136

Avg out-of-state
tuition

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

91%

Acceptance Rate Insight

91% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

88%

Retention Rate Insight

88% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

76%

Graduation Rate Insight

76% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresConsidered (not required)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankConsidered (not required)

Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile21-28

SAT 25th-75th Percentile1083-1330

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

31k

Students enrolled

52%

Online student enrollment

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold

Demographics

White

73%

Unknown

3%

Black

3%

Hispanic

6%

Two or more races

3%

Non-U.S. Citizen

8%

Asian

4%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

18% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

18%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

29

Total Online Enrollment

16,019

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

92% On-campus

8% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesX BoldNot offered

AssociateX BoldNot offered

Bachelor'sCheck Bold1% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold21% online

Master'sCheck Bold13% online

DoctorateX BoldNot offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

30%

State Grant Aid

1%

Institution Grant Aid

84%

Pell Grant

18%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$4,577
State Grant Aid$3,930
Institution Grant Aid$7,429
Pell Grant Aid$4,736

Financial Outlook

$23k

Average student debtafter graduation

$44k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

1.7%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • All Track Combined
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Wrestling
  • Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields.
2Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences.
3Architecture And Related Services.
4Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies.
5Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
6Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
7Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
8Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
9Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
10Education.
11Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
12Engineering.
13Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians.
14English Language And Literature/Letters.
15Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
16Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
17Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
18Health Professions And Related Programs.
19History
20History.
21Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services.
22Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
23Mathematics And Statistics.
24Military Technologies And Applied Sciences.
25Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
26Natural Resources And Conservation.
27Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies.
28Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
29Philosophy And Religious Studies.
30Physical Sciences.
31Psychology.
32Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
33Security And Protective Services.
34Social Sciences.
35Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.