2025-2026
Accept rate
87.9%
- Applicants
- 24,625
- Admits
- 21,652
- Enrolled
- 6,160
- Yield
- 28.4%
Total Applications
24,625
2025-2026
Acceptance Rate
87.9%
2025-2026
Enrolled Students
6,160
2025-2026
SAT Middle 50%
1153-1360
2025-2026
Iowa State University Admissions at a Glance
Iowa State University received 24,625 applications for 2025-2026 and admitted 87.9% of applicants; 6,160 admitted students enrolled (a 28.4% yield). That compares with an acceptance rate of 87.5% in 2016-2017. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1153–1360 on the SAT and 21–28 on the ACT. The total cost of attendance was $22,019, and the average need-based grant was $12,613.
Applications & Acceptance Rate Over Time
ApplicationsAcceptance Rate
Complete Admissions Data
2024-2025
Accept rate
88.7%
- Applicants
- 23,095
- Admits
- 20,475
- Enrolled
- 5,906
- Yield
- 28.8%
2023-2024
Accept rate
89.1%
- Applicants
- 22,995
- Admits
- 20,496
- Enrolled
- 5,859
- Yield
- 28.6%
2022-2023
Accept rate
90.2%
- Applicants
- 21,919
- Admits
- 19,776
- Enrolled
- 5,728
- Yield
- 29.0%
| Year | Applications | Admits | Enrolled | Accept Rate | Yield Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 24,625 | 21,652 | 6,160 | 87.9% | 28.4% |
| 2024-2025 | 23,095 | 20,475 | 5,906 | 88.7% | 28.8% |
| 2023-2024 | 22,995 | 20,496 | 5,859 | 89.1% | 28.6% |
| 2022-2023 | 21,919 | 19,776 | 5,728 | 90.2% | 29.0% |
| 2021-2022 | 20,357 | 18,550 | 5,387 | 91.1% | 29.0% |
| 2020-2021 | 20,223 | 17,882 | 5,071 | 88.4% | 28.4% |
| 2019-2020 | 18,246 | 16,796 | 5,597 | 92.0% | 33.3% |
| 2018-2019 | 18,855 | 17,082 | 6,047 | 90.6% | 35.4% |
| 2017-2018 | 19,262 | 17,208 | 5,944 | 89.3% | 34.5% |
| 2016-2017 | 19,433 | 17,002 | 6,325 | 87.5% | 37.2% |
SAT Score Trends (Middle 50%)
MedianMiddle 50% Range
25th Percentile
1153
50th Percentile
1260
75th Percentile
1360
Financial Aid Overview
Avg Aid PackageTotal Cost
Students Receiving Aid
43%
Need Fully Met
14%
Cost of Attendance Over Time
$22,019
2025-2026 Total COA
TuitionFeesRoom & Board
Tuition
$9,530
Fees
$1,561
Room & Board
$10,928
Change Since 2016
+28%
Student Demographics
Enrollment Over Time
UndergraduateGraduate
Demographics Over Time (% of Undergraduates)
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoBlack/African AmericanInternationalTwo or More
Undergraduates
26,346
Total Enrollment
31,105
International
4%
Students of Color
24%
Admissions Factors
Relative importance reported in the latest available Common Data Set.
Academic
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Considered
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Important
- Application essay
- Considered
- Recommendation(s)
- Considered
Nonacademic
- Interview
- Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Considered
- Talent/ability
- Considered
- Character/personal qualities
- Considered
- First generation
- Not Considered
- Alumni/ae relation
- Not Considered
- Geographical residence
- Considered
- State residency
- Considered
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Not Considered
- Volunteer work
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Level of applicant's interest
- Not Considered
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | ||||
| Rigor of secondary school record | ✓ | |||
| Class rank | ✓ | |||
| Academic GPA | ✓ | |||
| Standardized test scores | ✓ | |||
| Application essay | ✓ | |||
| Recommendation(s) | ✓ | |||
| Nonacademic | ||||
| Interview | ✓ | |||
| Extracurricular activities | ✓ | |||
| Talent/ability | ✓ | |||
| Character/personal qualities | ✓ | |||
| First generation | ✓ | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | ✓ | |||
| Geographical residence | ✓ | |||
| State residency | ✓ | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | ✓ | |||
| Volunteer work | ✓ | |||
| Work experience | ✓ | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | ✓ | |||