Admission Requirements for First-Year Students

Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

Academic Requirements by Country

Minimum performance requirements have been determined for students educated in most countries. See the admission requirements for students from your country.

Entrance Examinations

SAT I / ACT

Undergraduate students with good English reading skills may wish to take a standardized aptitude test, such as the ACT or SAT I.

Although the tests are not required of students who have been educated outside the U.S., strong results on either test could favorably affect the admission decision. Some U.S. Consulates require the results of a standardized examination as part of the visa application process to show the applicant's seriousness of purpose.

Scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency. Iowa State's codes are 6306 for the SAT I and 1320 for the ACT. There is no minimum composite score requirement.

English Proficiency Exams

For the purpose of applying to Iowa State, English may be considered your native language if you have been raised in an environment where English is the only official language of your locality and nation, and English has been the primary language used in your home. Applicants whose native language is not English must meet an English proficiency requirement. They may do so in one of the following ways:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A score of 68 on the IBT Internet-Based Test (IBT), 173 on the Computer-Based Test (PBT), or 500 on the Paper-Based Test (PBT) is required for most majors. Applicants to engineering are required to obtain scores of 71 on the IBT, 197 on the CBT, or 530 on the PBT. Official scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency. Iowa State's reporting code is 6306.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A minimum score of 5.0 (6.0 for engineering applicants). Scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the Testing Center where you took the IELTS. You will need to provide them with the address to the Office of Admissions.
  • SAT I Critical Reading/ACT-English: A minimum score of 420 on the Verbal Section of the SAT I or an ACT English subscore of 16 (same for engineering applicants). Scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency.

What if my TOEFL score is too low?

You may wish to consider applying to Iowa State's full-time Intensive English and Orientation Program (IEOP) to improve your English proficiency. You may retake the TOEFL as many times as you would like. While we encourage you to take the TOEFL before you come to campus, you do not have to meet the minimum score to be offered admission. We do offer conditional admission to otherwise well-qualified applicants. You would be invited to take our Institutional TOEFL the week before classes begin. If you achieved the required score, you would begin your academic program immediately. If you did not meet the minimum, you would be automatically admitted to the IEOP at Iowa State, and delay your academic study until you met the minimum requirement.

Secondary School Preparation

If you are applying directly from high school or transferring with fewer than 24 semester credits, you should have completed the following high school courses:

  • 4 years of English or your first language
  • 3 years of mathematics, including one year each of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra
  • 3 years of science, including one year each of two of the following: biology, chemistry, or physics
  • 2 years of social studies *

* In addition to the above, applicants to majors within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete a third year of social studies and 2 years of a single foreign language. (English as a second language may be used to meet this requirement.)