Iowa State University
PublicAmes, IA
Iowa State University traces its origins to 1858, when it was established as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, and it opened to students in 1869. Iowa was the first state to accept the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, and Iowa State is recognized as the nation's first coeducational land-grant institution. It is organized today into six colleges, including Agriculture and Life Sciences, Engineering, and Business.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Iowa State University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 12% submitted SAT scores, 45% submitted ACT scores.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $20,048 more per year in tuition and fees (2.8x the in-state rate).
Tuition & fees are Iowa State University's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Iowa State University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Iowa State University weighs your application
From Iowa State University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Iowa State University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Iowa State University look for in applicants?
Per Iowa State University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Iowa State University's acceptance rate?
Iowa State University in Ames, IA admits approximately 89% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Iowa State University?
Per Iowa State University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1153–1360 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Iowa State University?
Per Iowa State University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 21–28 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Iowa State University cost?
Iowa State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $24,018 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
What is out-of-state tuition at Iowa State University?
For 2026-27, Iowa State University's tuition and required fees are $31,449 for out-of-state students and $11,401 for in-state students -- $20,048 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does Iowa State University require students to live on campus?
No -- Iowa State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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