CostByCollegeAdmissions
Iowa State acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Iowa State University is 89.1% for fall 2023. Out of 22,995 applicants, 20,496 were admitted and 5,859 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 22,995 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 20,496 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 89.1% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 5,859 |
How this rate compares
Against the Iowa pilot school average of 62.2%, the rate at Iowa State University is 26.9 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Iowa State University is 36.1 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 3 schools in Iowa and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Iowa State University.
Similar schools to compare
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Total cost $28,596 for one year.
- Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. Total cost $83,490 for one year.
- Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. Total cost $34,309 for one year.
- George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Total cost $33,748 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa State?
The acceptance rate at Iowa State University is 89.1% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 20,496, divided by the number who applied, 22,995.
How many students apply to Iowa State each year?
In fall 2023, 22,995 students applied to Iowa State University, 20,496 were admitted, and 5,859 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Iowa State compared with other schools in Iowa?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in Iowa that publish a rate is 62.2%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Iowa State University is 89.1%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Iowa State cost?
The total cost for one year at Iowa State University is $24,204 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa State?
The graduation rate at Iowa State University is 75%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.