Navigating Admissions at Iowa State University: ACT Scores and Requirements

Iowa State University (ISU) offers a wide array of opportunities for prospective students. Understanding the admission requirements, especially regarding standardized test scores like the ACT, is crucial for a successful application. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Iowa State University's ACT score expectations, along with other factors influencing admission.

Understanding Iowa State's Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Iowa State University is 88.7%, indicating that the university is lightly selective. This means that a significant portion of applicants are admitted. Meeting the university's GPA and ACT score expectations greatly increases your chances of receiving an offer of admission.

GPA Requirements: Aiming for Above Average

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in, requires you to be above average in your high school class. The average GPA at Iowa State University is 3.75, requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, with a leaning toward A's. To compensate for a lower GPA, consider taking harder classes, like AP or IB courses.

Test-Flexible Policy: ACT/SAT Scores

Iowa State is test-optional for first-year applicants. Students may choose whether they wish to report their ACT/SAT scores when they apply for admission. Iowa State University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. For those who choose not to submit an ACT or SAT score, admission will be based on high school GPA and completion of core course requirements. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. CLT scores can also be submitted for consideration. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Iowa State University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students.

Decoding the ACT Score Range

The average ACT score at Iowa State University is 24. The 25th percentile ACT score is 21, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 28. In other words, a 21 places you below average, while a 28 will move you up to above average. Aim for a 21 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission.

Read also: Iowa Universities

Maximizing Your ACT Score

When you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 21 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can.

ACT Superscoring Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore.

ACT Essay Section

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. Iowa State University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration.

SAT Score Information

Half the applicants admitted to Iowa State University who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1120 and 1360 or an ACT score of 21 and 28. The 25th percentile SAT score is 1130, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1350. Aim for a 1130 SAT or a 21 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission.

Holistic Review: More Than Just Scores

Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances.

Read also: The Story of UNI Panthers Football

Application Essentials

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. Applicants for the fall semester are encouraged to apply during the fall of the year preceding their entry to Iowa State University. Completed applications for admission to the professional curriculum in the College of Veterinary Medicine, together with the required supporting transcripts, must be received by an established deadline. Iowa State University operates on a rolling admissions basis. Admission of applicants for fall semester begins in July of the preceding year. Admission for other terms begins approximately 12 months prior to the beginning of the term. Applicants must submit an application for admission and the appropriate application fee (see registrar.iastate.edu/fees/othfee for current application fee information). Applications may be considered from students who did not graduate with their high school classes. Exceptional students may be admitted as full-time students before completing high school. Students may be initially admitted based on self-reported transcript information from their application. If you are initially admitted, your admission is contingent upon review of your final official high school transcript. Upon graduation, please request that your school's administration send an official copy of your final transcript to the Office of Admissions. Only transcripts sent directly from the school or an approved transcript service are considered official. We will not accept final official transcripts from students.

Requirements for Iowa High School Graduates

Iowa high school graduates must achieve a Regent Admission Index (RAI) score of at least 245 and take the minimum number of required high school courses to qualify for automatic admission as freshmen to Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa.

Minimum High School Course Requirements

High school students seeking direct admission to Iowa State University must fulfill the minimum high school course requirements outlined below:

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. 3 years, including courses in general science, biology, chemistry, earth science or physics.
Social Studies: 2 years

In addition to the high school course requirements listed above, students applying to the College of Engineering must complete two years of a single world language. and Liberal Arts and Sciences must have completed an additional year of social studies, for a total of three years, and two years of a single foreign language. World language courses are not required for admission.

Regent Admission Index (RAI) Score

Applicants with an RAI score of at least 245 and who meet the minimum high school course requirements will be automatically offered admission. Applicants who achieve an RAI score below 245 but still meet the minimum high school course requirements may also be considered for admission through an individual academic review of their application materials.

Read also: UUI Tuition Costs

Transfer Students: Requirements and Credit

Transfer applicants with a minimum of 24 semester hours of graded transferable credit from regionally accredited colleges or universities will be admitted provided they have achieved a minimum 2.25 transfer grade point average (on a 4.00 grading scale) for all college work previously attempted. Transfer applicants under disciplinary suspension will not be considered for admission until information concerning the reason for the suspension has been received from the college assigning the suspension. No more than 65 semester or 97 quarter credits earned at two-year colleges can be applied to a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. In determining the acceptability of transfer credit from colleges which are not regionally accredited, acceptance practices indicated in the current issue of Transfer Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions will be used as a guide. Transfer credit from foreign educational institutions may be granted after a determination of the type of institution involved, its recognition by the educational authorities of the foreign country, and an evaluation of the content, level, and comparability of the study to courses and programs at Iowa State University. Credit may be granted in specific courses or assigned to general areas of study.

Transfer Credit Policies

Credit will be awarded for successful completion of technical or specialized schools attended while on active duty with the armed forces to the extent that the material is applicable toward degree requirements at Iowa State University.
Credit will be awarded for successful completion of learning acquired from participation in formal courses sponsored by associations, business, government, industry, and unions to the extent that the material is applicable toward degree requirements at Iowa State University.
Application of CLEP credit to a degree program varies with the department, so students should consult with their department before they register for CLEP examinations.
Students who have earned credit at other colleges or universities through Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations may qualify for credit at Iowa State University.
Credit for prior learning applies to learning acquired from, but not limited to, credit by examination (e.g., Advanced Placement Exam (AP), College Level Exam (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Departmental Exams, etc.), credit that has been recommended by non-degree granting institutions, and ACE-recommend military coursework and/or experience. Credit awarded for prior learning is documented, evaluated, and appropriate for the level of degree awarded.

Articulation Agreements and Transfer Tools

Iowa State University participates in an articulation agreement with the other two Iowa Regent universities concerning the acceptance of their general education programs into the Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students who plan to enter the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University with an associate of arts degree from an Iowa public community college, and who have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, will be considered to have met the general education requirements of that college. Students who plan to enter the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University with an associate of science degree from an Iowa public community college, and who have at least 60 prescribed semester credits acceptable for transfer and at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, will be enrolled at junior level status upon entry to Iowa State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Iowa State University will accept up to 16 semester (24 quarter) credits earned in career-technical courses where the sending Iowa public community college will accept such courses toward its associate of arts or associate in science degree. Certain career-technical courses at Iowa community colleges may be articulated to Iowa State University as academic credit. The credit hours earned in these articulated courses would transfer in addition to the 16 semester hour career-technical maximum. TRANSIT is Iowa State's online system, which displays how credits from a community college or another university may transfer to a degree program at Iowa State. In TRANSIT, prospective or current students can generate a transfer credit evaluation showing how their courses and degrees from a community college or university transfer to Iowa State University. In addition, students can request an unofficial degree audit, which will display how their transfer courses are applied within a particular Iowa State major/degree program. Credits presented from another institution are evaluated initially by the Office of Admissions to determine whether the courses are acceptable for transfer credit. In addition, credits applied toward a particular degree will be determined by the student's college, based on relevance to the students' program requirements as well as the level of performance deemed necessary for successful progress in that program. For example, courses that are deemed important to a program but were earned with less than a C grade may or may not be approved for a program. This policy also applies to students already enrolled at Iowa State University and to new transfer students. Students should consult with their academic advisors and the Office of Admissions before taking coursework at other colleges and universities to be certain the credits will transfer and will be applicable to their program of study. Students who believe that any transfer credits have not been correctly evaluated should consult with their academic advisor and with the Office of Admissions. No more than 65 semester or 97 quarter credits earned at two-year colleges can be applied to a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. While there is no limit to the number of credits that may be transferred from a four-year institution, the last 32 semester credits before receiving a degree from Iowa State University must be completed at Iowa State University. Iowa State University students who attend one of the other Iowa Regent universities under the Regent Universities Student Exchange Program will have the credits earned at the other university counted as resident credit and grades received included in their Iowa State University cumulative grade point average, even if the credits are included in the last 32 semester credits.

Credit by Examination

It is Iowa State University policy to grant academic credit by examination in many of the undergraduate courses listed in the university bulletin. Credit is awarded primarily in the introductory level classes in mathematics, natural, physical, and social sciences, and the liberal arts. Students may earn academic credit in any of six ways and have that credit recorded on their academic record when they enroll. Programs accepted at Iowa State include the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations, the Global Assessment Certificate (GAC), Cambridge International AS and A Level Subject examinations, departmental examinations, and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). This program allows students, while still in high school, to take examinations for credit at the college level. Iowa State University awards credit or advanced placement through the Advanced Placement Program in art, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, English, environmental science, foreign languages, geography, government and politics, history, mathematics, music, physics, psychology and statistics. Generally, students scoring 3 or better on the exams will be considered for course credit based on departmental review of the exams. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, offered at many high schools in the United States and abroad, allows students the opportunity to take examinations for credit at the college level. Iowa State University awards credit for most higher level examinations and some standard level examinations. Students must receive a minimum score of 4 to qualify for academic credit in most subject areas. Some departments require higher scores. Official IB examination results must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the International Baccalaureate Americas Office. Cambridge Advanced offers college preparatory courses worldwide. At the conclusion of course studies and examinations, an official GCE Certificate must be received in order to award transfer credits. Official AS- and A-Level examination certificates must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. Students may take locally constructed departmental examinations for undergraduate credit in specified subject areas for which they and the department feel they have the necessary preparation. These exams are generally administered by the department which offers the course (for exceptions, see CLEP offerings below). Students interested in taking departmental (or CLEP) examinations should contact the appropriate department for specific information on the course covered by the exam and the exam itself. If an acceptable exam score is achieved, a grade of T will be reported to the Office of the Registrar. The T grade represents performance equivalent to a C or better in the course.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

Most examinations for credit are prepared by the departments offering the courses.

ArtAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedArt History3-4Art History 28003 5Art History 2800, 28106Drawing4-5Design Studies 131042-D Art & Design No Credit 3-D Art & Design4-5Design Studies 10204BiologyAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedBiology4-5Biology 10004ChemistryAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedChemistry4-5Chemistry 1770, 17807Depending upon the Chemistry Department's review of the student's AP Chemistry lab notebook, students may receive up to two additional credits: one credit for CHEM 1670L, or one credit for CHEM 1770L, or two credits for CHEM 1770L and 1780L. Computer scienceAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedComputer Science A4Computer Science 12704Computer Science A5Computer Science 1270 and 22708Computer Science Principles4-5Computer Science 10003EconomicsAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedMacroeconomics3-5Economics 10203Microeconomics3-5Economics 10103EnglishAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedEnglish Language & Composition3-5English 15003English Literature & Composition4-5English 1000 or 15003If you have earned an ACT English score of at least 24 or an SAT ERW score of at least 600, you do not need to take the English Language/Composition Exam as you will automatically be placed into English 2500. If you earn a grade of C or better in English 2500 taken at Iowa State University, you will be awarded test-out credit for English 1500.Environmental scienceAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedEnvironmental Science 3-5Environmental Studies 10003GeographyAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedHuman Geography3-5Social Science 10003Government and politicsAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Government and Politics4-5Political Science 11103Comparative Government/Politics4-5Political Science 12503HistoryAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedAfrican American Studies4-5African American Studies 20103European History4-5History 2010, 20206United States History4-5History 2210, 22206World History: Modern4-5History 10006MathematicsAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedCalculus AB4-5Math 16504Calculus BC3Math 16504Calculus BC4-5Math 1650, 16608Precalculus4-5Math 14304Note: All students are required to take a math placement exam prior to registering for classes. If the studentâs math placement is not consistent with the credits awarded on the basis of their AP Calculus exam (as indicated above), the student should consult with their academic advisor to determine whether they still wish to accept the math credit they have been awarded. MusicAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedMusic Theory4-5Music 22404PhysicsAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedPhysics 1: Algebra-based5Physics 1310, 1310L5Physics 1: Algebra-based4Physics 1310, 1310L5Physics 2: Algebra-based5Physics 1320, 1320L5Physics 2: Algebra-based4Physics 1320, 1320L5Physics C: Mechanics4-5Physics 2310, 2310L5Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism4-5Physics 2320, 2320L5* Students must also earn a minimum score of 3 on the Physics 2 exam Students must also earn a minimum score of 3 on the Physics 1 examPsychologyAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedPsychology4-5Psychology 10103StatisticsAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. AwardedStatistics3Statistics 10104Statistics4-5Statistics 20104World languageAP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs.*

CLEP Examinations

Iowa State awards up to six semester credit hours in each of these three CLEP general tests: Social Sciences and History, Humanities, and Natural Sciences. For information on whether to take any of the CLEP tests, contact your academic advisor.

Departmental and CLEP tests are offered to newly admitted or currently enrolled students at Iowa State University.
Permission to take a departmental examination is obtained from the department. Students may be denied permission because (a) the nature of the course is such that proficiency cannot be measured by such a test, (b) the student does not appear to have adequate background to pass the examination for the course, or (c) the student would not otherwise be allowed to enroll in the course.
Students may ordinarily attempt a CBE test only once in any course or area.
5. 6. There is a nonrefundable fee for all departmental tests.
Departmental examinations are usually given just prior to, or within two weeks of, the beginning of fall and spring semesters. For more information, students should contact the department that offers the class.
Credit for the CLEP examinations Social Sciences and History, Humanities, and Natural Sciences is not evaluated as equivalent to any specific course and cannot be used in place of specific course requirements for the major. All colleges (except Engineering, which does not accept these tests) allow these CLEP credits to be used for either general requirements (not in Liberal Arts and Sciences) or elective credit.
a. AP or CLEP credit which is earned at an Iowa public college or university may be transferred directly to Iowa State University provided it is accompanied by at least 12 semester credits earned in residence at the sending institution. AP or CLEP credit which is earned at any other college or university may not be transferred directly to Iowa State. b. IB credit earned at another college or university may not be transferred directly to Iowa State University. c. d. Credit earned at another college or unive…

Additional Resources

Your high school counselor is an excellent source of information about planning for college.

GPA Calculator

Use our GPA calculator to convert a GPA to a 4-point scale. We accepted weighted GPAs if:Awarding a weighted GPA is a school-wide policy and the weighted GPA is listed on the final official transcript for all students and The school's weighted grading system does not award more than one additional quality point to the grade earned in weighted courses.The number of core high school courses is measured in years or fractions of years.

Nondegree Undergraduate Students

Students who wish to attend Iowa State University to take undergraduate courses but who do not plan to seek an undergraduate degree from Iowa State University should apply as nondegree undergraduate students. Credit taken under the nondegree undergraduate classification is applicable for undergraduate degree purposes for those who are later admitted as degree-seeking undergraduate students. Nondegree undergraduates who have already earned an undergraduate degree may not enroll in graduate credits. To take courses listed as available for graduate credit, a student must enroll as a nondegree graduate and pay graduate fees.

Reentry Students

students who have been absent from Iowa State University less than 12 months may be admitted as a returning student. student must apply for reentry to the university. All international students must apply for reentry regardless of the time away from the university. Reentering graduate students do not need to complete a reentry form but should notify their program and the Office of the Registrar of their intent to reenter Iowa State University.

Required Transcripts

Applicants must submit an application for admission, and the appropriate application fee (see registrar.iastate.edu/fees/othfee for current application fee information). Applicants must also request that each institution they have attended send an official transcript of record to the Office of Admissions. Failure to provide transcripts from all colleges or universities attended may result in denial of the application or dismissal from the university. If less than 24 semester hours of graded transferable college credit is completed prior to entry at Iowa State University, applicants must also request that their official high school transcript be sent to the Office of Admissions. high school and whose primary language is not English must meet the university's English communication requirement.

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