Take the next step

The Admissions Partnership Program (APP) prepares you for a successful transfer to Iowa State University so your adventure can continue without a hitch. Enjoy early advising, academic opportunities, social events, cultural connections, and more.

Program benefits

Exclusive Admissions Partnership Program benefits:

  • Dedicated academic advisors at Iowa State to ensure the courses taken at your community college transfer smoothly to your intended Iowa State major
  • Build connections to Iowa State prior to transferring by getting your ISUCard early and setting up an ISU email account
  • Additional perks by paying the optional Iowa State Student Activity fee include participating in ISU intramurals, utilizing ISU workout facilities and gyms, joining ISU clubs and organizations (when eligible), and student ticket pricing for athletics and cultural events, etc.
  • Access to Iowa State Career Services resources, career fairs, and connections with potential employers
  • Free transcript exchange between your community college and Iowa State
  • Stress-free process when ready to apply for admission to Iowa State
  • Guaranteed admission to Iowa State provided requirements are met

Prior to completion of the Admissions Partnership Program (APP) application, please visit with your Iowa community college advisor in order to ensure that APP is the best fit for you.

Your APP application is not your application for admission to Iowa State or your community college. Please contact your community college to learn more about their application process. When you are ready to transfer to Iowa State, please complete the application for admission.

Eligibility requirements*

  • Students must be high school graduates.
  • Students must be enrolled at an Iowa community college taking coursework to transfer.
  • Students who have attempted community college course work must have a cumulative transferable (academic) GPA of 2.0 or better.
    • Note: The GPA is calculated from all colleges attended, not just the APP school.
    • Note: Career technical, developmental/remedial, and military credits do not count towards a transferrable academic GPA.
  • Current or former Iowa State University credit students, including students enrolled in off-campus programs, are not eligible.
  • Students who have taken courses at Iowa State prior to high school graduation, or during the summer immediately following graduation from high school, are eligible for the Admissions Partnership Program.
  • The following majors within the College of Design require completion of the one-year pre-professional Design Core Program: architecture, graphic design, industrial design, integrated studio arts, interior design, and landscape architecture. Students interested in these majors are encouraged to contact Jennifer Anderson or call 515-294-7415 to learn more about the Design Core Program and how it impacts the Admission Partnership Program.

*Nonresident applicants

Participation in the Admissions Partnership Program does not necessarily qualify you for residency at Iowa State University. The guidelines for classifying students as residents or nonresidents differ, depending on the educational institution. Residency requirements at the community college are not the same as residency requirements at the Iowa Regent universities. Thus a student may be classified as a resident at a community college, yet not meet the residency requirements at Iowa State University. For information regarding residency classification at Iowa State University, visit the Residency for Admission and Tuition page or contact the Iowa State University Office of the Registrar at 515-294-0762.

Note for students with disabilities

Information regarding students receiving accommodations through disability services will not be shared between institutions. Any student who believes they are eligible for reasonable accommodations at Iowa State should contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services at 515-294-7220.

  • Include a valid email address on your application. Email is required as it is the primary means of communication between you and your Iowa State academic advisor.
  • Item #1: Use your legal name if your college records may appear under a different name.
  • Item #6: If you are enrolled at an Iowa community college and wish to begin APP immediately select the current term.
  • Item #16: List all of the colleges from which you have attempted college coursework.
  • Item #17: List the college courses you are now taking or will take prior to your entry into APP.
  • Request an official copy of your transcript be sent to Iowa State from each college you have attended. Once you are offered admission to APP, you do not need to request a transcript.
  • Visit transfer admissions or call 515-294-5836 for information regarding transferring to Iowa State.
  • Access additional transfer planning resources such as course equivalency guidestransfer plans, and TRANSIT.

Next steps for APP students

Teamwork makes your Iowa State dream work! Together we will help put you on the path to success.

Both your Iowa State academic advisor and your community college advisor will work with you to plan your transfer coursework, preparing you for your next adventure and beyond.

In addition to your academic advisors, Iowa State has the following transfer planning resources to help you throughout the transfer process:

  • Iowa State maintains course equivalency guides for all Iowa community colleges. The course equivalency guide lists the community college courses alongside the Iowa State equivalent courses.
  • Transfer plans also exist for many Iowa State majors. The transfer plan for your intended major will tell you which courses at your community college meet the program requirements at Iowa State.
  • You can also use our online articulation system, TRANSIT, to learn how your credits may transfer to Iowa State from your community college or other university.

If you do not know who your APP advisor is, contact us at app@iastate.edu.

Participants

  • Remain enrolled at a participating community college in a major or in coursework appropriate for transfer to the desired program at Iowa State.
  • Consult with an Iowa State advisor and meet with your community college educational advisor/counselor to develop a transfer plan.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative institutional academic GPA of 2.0. If your GPA falls below 2.0, you will have one semester of probation. Work with your community college advisor or Iowa State University Admissions to take corrective action. If your GPA remains below 2.0 after one semester of program probation, you will be withdrawn from the program.
    • Note: Career technical, developmental/remedial, and military credits do not count towards an academic GPA.
  • No later than one semester prior to transfer (excluding summer), complete and submit an Undergraduate Application for Admission to the Iowa State Office of Admissions. The application fee will be required when the application is submitted.
  • To prepare for your transfer to Iowa State, be aware that the transfer admission GPA requirement is 2.0 only for students with a completed AA or AS degree. When transferring without a completed AA or AS, a minimum academic GPA of 2.25 is required. In addition, students planning to transfer with fewer than 24 academic credits must meet Iowa State first-year student admission requirements and also have a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA in all college course work attempted. The 2.25 academic cumulative GPA is the current admission transfer policy and does not assure acceptance into all programs.

Iowa State University

  • Assigns and provides access to an academic advisor from the student's intended Iowa State college or program.
  • Arranges for open option (undeclared) students to participate in career exploration programs at Iowa State, as well as encourage participation in similar programs available at their community college. Open option/undeclared students will be assigned an Iowa State open option advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  • Provides a transfer plan that will allow students to choose community college coursework that will best fit the requirements of the designated Iowa State degree program.
  • Makes available to participants an ISUCard and Iowa State email account.
  • Provides opportunities for students to access career exploration resources, university libraries, athletic and cultural events, recreation services including the Lied Recreation Center, CyRide, and campus organizations (when organizational by-laws allow). Access to some resources may require payment of an annual student activities fee.
  • Reviews student records and approves admission to Iowa State if admission requirements have been met.
  • Provides opportunities to participate in early orientation and registration programs prior to transfer.
  • Establishes the regular presence of an Iowa State admissions counselor on your community college campus.

Community college

  • Assigns and provides an educational advisor/counselor.
  • Provides an official transcript to Iowa State upon program entry and after each semester of program participation.

Students meeting all admission requirements will be formally admitted to Iowa State University. A minimum transfer GPA of 2.0 is required for students with a completed AA or AS degree. All other transfer students must meet the 2.25 minimum academic GPA requirement. Students transferring with fewer than 24 transferable credit hours must also meet first-year student admission requirements and have a 2.25 academic GPA in all college course work attempted.

Residency requirements

The guidelines for classifying students as residents or nonresidents differ at your community college and at Iowa State University. A student may be classified as a resident for tuition purposes at your community college and as a nonresident at Iowa State University. For more information regarding residency classification at Iowa State University, contact the Office of the Registrar at 515-294-1840.

We can connect you with all the right people! Just reach out to let us know what information you need.

Email app@iastate.edu or call 515-294-8469.