- Acceptance rate: 89% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 560–670 reading and writing, 560–690 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 21–28 composite
- Average net price: $17,354 a year (2022–23)
Iowa State University GPA calculator
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Online GPA calculator
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Iowa State University reported: an acceptance rate of 89% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 21–28.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Iowa State University reviews each application.
Iowa State University GPA requirements
Iowa State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Iowa State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Iowa State University acceptance rate
Iowa State University admitted 20,475 of 23,095 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 89%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Iowa State University is a public 4-year university in Ames, Iowa, with 25,628 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Iowa State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 560 | 620 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 630 | 690 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 24 | 28 |
| ACT English | 20 | 23 | 27 |
| ACT Math | 20 | 25 | 27 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1204 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Iowa State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Iowa State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $17,354 a year at Iowa State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a chance at Iowa State University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Iowa State University admitted 89% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What GPA do you need to get into Iowa State University?
Iowa State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is Iowa State University hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Iowa State University admitted 89% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into Iowa State University?
Iowa State University's acceptance rate was 89% for fall 2024: it admitted 20,475 of 23,095 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Does Iowa State University require the SAT or ACT?
Check Iowa State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Iowa State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 13% sent SAT scores and 46% sent ACT scores.
How important is GPA for getting into Iowa State University?
A lot: Iowa State University requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It considers high school class rank and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider recommendations, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What SAT and ACT scores do Iowa State University students have?
The middle 50% of Iowa State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 560–670 in reading and writing and 560–690 in math; ACT composite 21–28, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Iowa State University?
Yes. Iowa State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What is the average net price at Iowa State University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $17,354 a year at Iowa State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Iowa State University look at legacy status?
No. Iowa State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Iowa State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Iowa State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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