US School Discovery
Iowa State University
Explore admissions details for Iowa State University, including acceptance rate, tuition, net price, testing data, student size, and an estimated 4.0 GPA fit range that can be used with your converter results.
About ISU
Iowa State University is a public institution in Ames, IA. It is listed as a bachelor's degree institution in the current dataset. Based on the latest available data, Iowa State University is broadly accessible with an acceptance rate of 89%. Reported student size is about 25,033, which helps frame the scale of the campus experience.
Iowa State University is included here as part of the CalcmyGPA US school discovery directory, which is designed to help students compare acceptance rate, tuition, SAT and ACT ranges, student size, and GPA-fit guidance in one place. If you are researching whether Iowa State University should be a reach, match, or stronger-fit option, this profile gives a faster planning summary before you move into application strategy.
Acceptance Rate
89%
Average SAT
1,199
Average ACT
25
Student Size
25,033
In-State Tuition
$10,497
Out-of-State Tuition
$27,683
ISU Acceptance Rate, SAT, ACT, and Admissions Data
Iowa State University sits in the broadly accessible range with an acceptance rate of 89%. The average SAT shown here is 1,199, and the midpoint ACT composite is 25. Graduation rate is 75%, which adds useful perspective beyond admissions alone.
Admissions data matters because school selectivity is rarely about one number alone. For Iowa State University, acceptance rate, SAT or ACT ranges, and graduation-rate signals work better when read together, especially for students comparing several US schools with similar reputations, cost, or GPA expectations.
Acceptance
89%
Graduation Rate
75%
SAT Average
1,199
ACT Composite
25
SAT Reading
595
SAT Math
612
Graduation Rate
75%
Control
Public
ISU Tuition, Net Price, and Cost of Attendance
Iowa State University reports in-state tuition of $10,497 and out-of-state tuition of $27,683. Average net price is $18,165, which can be more useful than sticker tuition when comparing affordability. Estimated annual cost of attendance is $23,309 before individual aid differences. Median debt for completers is $22,869.
Cost is often where school lists change the most. This Iowa State University cost section is meant to help you compare tuition, average net price, and overall attendance cost more naturally, so you can judge whether the school looks realistic financially before spending more time on essays, applications, or score comparisons.
In-State Tuition
$10,497
Out-of-State Tuition
$27,683
Average Net Price
$18,165
Attendance Cost
$23,309
Average Net Price
$18,165
Cost of Attendance
$23,309
Median Debt
$22,869
ISU Student Size, Graduation Rate, and Outcomes
Iowa State University enrolls about 25,033 students. Public control can affect tuition structure, funding, and campus priorities. Reported median earnings 10 years after entry are $63,386.
Student size and outcomes add important perspective that pure admissions numbers miss. For many applicants, the right US school is not just about getting in, but also about campus scale, graduation success, and longer-term earnings potential, which is why this Iowa State University profile keeps those factors visible before you drill into calculators or related schools.
Student Size
25,033
Median Earnings
$63,386
ISU GPA Requirements and Academic Fit
A practical GPA floor for discovery purposes is around 2.30 on the 4.0 scale. A stronger target is around 2.65 to improve fit. This is an estimate used to turn converter results into school suggestions, not an official admissions guarantee.
The GPA fit range on this page is not an official minimum from Iowa State University. It is a planning layer that helps you compare your converted 4.0 GPA against other US school profiles in a more practical way. That makes it useful for deciding whether Iowa State University looks more like a reach, match, or stronger-fit school inside the wider directory.
Iowa State University is less selective than many national-name schools, but applicants should still compare GPA, testing, cost, and program fit before applying.
Estimated Floor
2.30
Recommended GPA
2.65
Estimated Floor
2.30
Recommended GPA
2.65
How to Apply to ISU Strategically
Use this section as a quick application guide before you decide whether ISU belongs in your reach, match, or safety group. The goal is to keep admissions fit, affordability, and official requirements in view at the same time.
Check your fit before treating it as a match
Compare Iowa State University with schools that have similar size, cost, selectivity, and GPA expectations before you decide where it belongs on your list.
Review cost early, not after you apply
Look at tuition, net price, and overall attendance cost early so affordability is part of the decision from the start, not something you discover after you are already committed.
Confirm official requirements on the school website
Use the official admissions and financial-aid pages for final requirements, deadlines, prerequisite expectations, and any updated testing or application-policy changes.
ISU GPA, Current Grade, Final Exam, and Planner Calculators
ISU Admissions, GPA, Tuition, and FAQ
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa State University?
Iowa State University currently shows an acceptance rate of 89% in this dataset.
How competitive is Iowa State University?
Iowa State University is less selective than many national-name schools, but applicants should still compare GPA, testing, cost, and program fit before applying.
What GPA is competitive for Iowa State University?
This page estimates a discovery fit band around 2.30 to 2.65 on the 4.0 scale. These are guidance estimates, not official minimums.
How much does Iowa State University cost?
Iowa State University reports in-state tuition of $10,497, out-of-state tuition of $27,683, and an average net price of $18,165.
What test scores are shown for Iowa State University?
Iowa State University shows an average SAT of 1,199 and an ACT composite midpoint of 25.
Schools Similar to ISU
Simpson College
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Acceptance rate 87% →
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
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Loras College
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Upper Iowa University
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University of Iowa
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Discovery Flow
Compare Your GPA With Similar Schools
You can also compare this ISU profile with other schools using the GPA converter. Convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale and explore reach, match, and safety options in one place.
Note: school facts on this page come from the latest College Scorecard data and should be verified on official admissions and financial aid pages before you apply.

