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Iowa State acceptance rate
Iowa State University · Ames, Iowa · Public · 25,367 undergraduates
Iowa State admits more of its applicants than the typical four-year college, where the median rate is 77%. Ten years apart, the numbers are close: 87% in fall 2014 and 89% in fall 2024. Georgia Southern University is the hardest to get into among the six schools closest to Iowa State in size and selectivity (88%); University of Kentucky is the easiest (93%).
Acceptance rate since 2001
Show the numbers by year
| Fall | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,095 | 20,475 | 88.7% | 5,906 |
| 2023 | 22,995 | 20,496 | 89.1% | 5,859 |
| 2022 | 21,919 | 19,776 | 90.2% | 5,728 |
| 2021 | 20,357 | 18,550 | 91.1% | 5,387 |
| 2020 | 20,223 | 17,882 | 88.4% | 5,071 |
| 2019 | 18,246 | 16,796 | 92.1% | 5,597 |
| 2018 | 18,855 | 17,082 | 90.6% | 6,047 |
| 2017 | 19,262 | 17,208 | 89.3% | 5,944 |
| 2016 | 19,433 | 17,002 | 87.5% | 6,325 |
| 2015 | 19,164 | 16,702 | 87.2% | 6,230 |
| 2014 | 18,399 | 15,990 | 86.9% | 6,041 |
| 2013 | 16,539 | 13,648 | 82.5% | 5,366 |
| 2012 | 14,540 | 12,541 | 86.3% | 5,048 |
| 2011 | 15,066 | 12,135 | 80.5% | 4,552 |
| 2010 | 12,536 | 10,662 | 85.1% | 4,356 |
| 2009 | 12,549 | 10,953 | 87.3% | 4,546 |
| 2008 | 11,058 | 9,832 | 88.9% | 4,347 |
| 2007 | 9,634 | 8,674 | 90.0% | 3,983 |
| 2006 | 9,101 | 8,216 | 90.3% | 3,769 |
| 2005 | 9,101 | 8,216 | 90.3% | 3,769 |
| 2004 | 9,172 | 8,273 | 90.2% | 3,729 |
| 2003 | 9,035 | 8,116 | 89.8% | 3,897 |
| 2002 | 10,370 | 9,232 | 89.0% | 4,219 |
| 2001 | 10,658 | 9,604 | 90.1% | 4,654 |
Applications and offers
Acceptance rate for women and men
| Fall 2024 | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 11,240 | 9,941 | 88.4% |
| Men | 11,855 | 10,534 | 88.9% |
SAT, ACT and test policy
- Test scores in admission
- Considered if submitted (test-optional)
- SAT reading and writing
- 560 to 670 (middle 50% of enrolled students)
- SAT math
- 560 to 690
- ACT composite
- 21 to 28
Colleges similar to Iowa State
The six public four-year colleges closest to Iowa State in acceptance rate and undergraduate enrollment.
| College | Acceptance rate | Avg net price | Earnings after 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ | 90% | $17,265 | $59,083 |
| Colorado State University, Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | 89% | $22,247 | $66,947 |
| Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA | 88% | $16,785 | $59,167 |
| University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | 93% | $18,868 | $63,924 |
| Illinois State University Normal, IL | 88% | $17,829 | $67,557 |
| East Carolina University Greenville, NC | 89% | $16,880 | $60,387 |
Admissions counts are first-time, first-year applicants reported by Iowa State to IPEDS for each fall term (2001 to 2024), read from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Test score ranges and policy come from the College Scorecard. College Scorecard data updated November 2, 2026. How these figures are built · Iowa State on College Scorecard