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.

If your country is not listed, please send us an email with the name of your country, whether you are applying as a freshman or transfer, and we will send you the admission requirements separately.

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 71 on the Internet-Based Test (IBT) or 530 on the Paper-Based Test (PBT) is required. Official scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency. Iowa State's reporting code is 6306. (Scanned copies and photocopies are not accepted.)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): An overall band score of 6.0 with no sub score below 5.5 is required. Scores should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the testing center where you took the IELTS. (Scanned copies and photocopies are not accepted.)
• SAT Critical Reading/ACT-English: A minimum score of 420 on the Critical Reading Section of the SAT or an ACT English score of 16. Scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency. (Scanned copies and photocopies are not accepted.)

Students who have taken English courses at a US institution are held to the requirements listed above.

Conditional Admission

If you have not yet taken one of the examinations above, or your scores do not yet meet the minimum requirement, you will automatically be considered for "conditional admission" to allow you to improve your English skills in our full-time Intensive English and Orientation Program (IEOP). In this case, it is not necessary for you to submit a separate application for the IEOP. If admitted conditionally, our admission letter and I-20 form will state your bachelor's degree major, but indicate that English language training will be provided on campus. When you arrive, you will join the IEOP immediately. The IEOP offers classes at the same time as our regular classes, and you can retake the TOEFL at the end of each semester until you pass it.

In some cases, if you have already achieved an English score that is below but very close to meeting our minimum requirement, we will offer you the opportunity to take an Institutional Paper-Based TOEFL upon your arrival. If you meet the score requirements in that test, we will allow you to begin your regular academic studies full-time.

What if I get the score I need before I arrive?

If you plan on taking one of the English proficiency tests between now and when you plan to come to Iowa State, be sure to have your official scores sent to us. If you happen to achieve the required score before you arrive at Iowa State, we will be happy to change your admission status to "unconditional" and you will not have to take the Intensive English and Orientation Program before you begin your academic studies. Remember, a new I-20 is not issued when this happens. Just be sure to take your new score with you when you go to apply for the visa. If you already have obtained your visa, just bring a copy with you in case the border officials wish to see it.

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 (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

Additional entrance requirements for the Colleges of Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences
In addition to the high school course requirements listed above, students applying for admission to the College of Engineering must complete two years of a single foreign language. (English is counted as a foreign language for nonnative English speakers.) Engineering applicants are also strongly encouraged to have taken trigonometry. Students applying for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete a third year of social studies and two years of a single foreign language.

Entrance Examinations (SAT and ACT)

Undergraduate students with good English skills may wish to take a standardized aptitude test, such as the ACT or SAT. Scores should be reported directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency. Iowa State's codes are 6306 for the SAT and 1320 for the ACT. There is no minimum composite score requirement.

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.