Admission Requirements
Because the pandemic has limited opportunities for students to take the ACT or SAT, US freshman applicants who wish to enroll prior to Spring 2023 are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores. These applicants may decide for themselves whether they wish to self-report their test scores and have them factored into their admission decision.
Applicants who choose to self-report their test scores
Regent Admission Index
These applicants will be considered for admission based upon their Regent Admission Index (RAI) score. Below is the mathematical formula for calculating students RAI scores:
RAI Formula
ACT composite (or converted SAT) score x 3 | |
+ | Cumulative GPA x 30 |
+ | Number of years of high school core courses x 5 |
RAI (Regent Admission Index) |
Note: For purposes of calculating the RAI, SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents; high school GPA is expressed on a 4-point scale; and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.
Applicants who achieve at least a 245 RAI score and who meet the minimum high school course requirements will automatically be offered admission. Applicants who achieve less than a 245 RAI score and who meet the minimum high school course requirements may also be offered admission, but their applications will be reviewed on an individual basis.
Calculate your unofficial Regent Admission Index.
Applicants who choose not to self-report their test scores
These applicants will be considered for admission based upon an individual review of their academic records. Emphasis will be given to students' high school cumulative GPA and core courses.
Minimum High School Course Requirements
Students who wish to enter Iowa State University directly from high school must also meet the minimum high school course requirements for admission as indicated below:
Subject | Requirement | Description |
---|---|---|
English/Language Arts | 4 years | Emphasizing writing, speaking, and reading, as well as an understanding and appreciation of literature |
Mathematics | 3 years | Including one year each of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra |
Science | 3 years | Including at least two years of courses which emphasize elements of biology, chemistry, or physics |
Social Studies | 2 years |
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. 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.
English Proficiency for Students from Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican students who indicate on their admission application that English is not their primary language will be held to Iowa State University's English proficiency requirement.
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