Ames, Iowa · Public ·City
Iowa State University
At a glance
Basics
- Type
- Public
- Setting
- City
- Enrollment
- 25,367 students
- Women / Men
- 44.8% / 55.2%
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 88.7%
- SAT (mid 50%)
- 1120–1360
- ACT (mid 50%)
- 21–28
Cost
- Avg net price
- $18,589
- Sticker price
- $24,018
- Tuition (in-state)
- $10,787
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $28,881
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 75.3%
- Retention rate
- 87.6%
- Median earnings (10y)
- $63,386
- Median debt
- $22,869 (~$248/mo)
Financial aid
- On Pell grants
- 18.8%
- Take federal loans
- 43.3%
All majors at Iowa State University
137 programs listed in federal data. Every row opens a school-specific page; listings without a positive program signal stay available for users but out of Google's index.
Cost & ROI
Is Iowa State University worth it?
Pay $18,589/yr after aid. Graduates earn a median of $63,386 ten years out — about 3.4× the annual cost. Value grade: B.
- Avg net price
- $18,589/yr
- Median earnings
- $63,386/yr (10y out)
- Median debt
- $22,869~$248/mo
- 4-year est. cost
- $74,356net of aid
Frequently asked questions
What is Iowa State University's acceptance rate?
Iowa State University admits 88.7% of applicants — accessible on admissions, compared to the national average of 72.3%. Most admitted students score in the 1120–1360 range on the SAT.
How much does Iowa State University cost per year?
The average annual net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $18,589. The sticker price before any aid is $24,018, so most students receive substantial discounts. Over four years that net cost adds up to roughly $74,356.
How much debt do Iowa State University graduates have?
Graduates leave Iowa State University with a median federal student loan balance of $22,869, which works out to about $248 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. About 43.3% of students take federal loans.
Is Iowa State University worth the cost?
Ten years after enrolling, Iowa State University graduates earn a median of $63,386 per year (national median: $50,834). That's about 3.4× the annual net price. EduGradify assigns Iowa State University a value grade of B.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State University?
Admitted students score 1120–1360 on the SAT (middle 50% range, out of 1600). That means a quarter of admits scored above the high end of that range, and a quarter scored below it.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa State University?
75.3% of full-time undergraduates graduate from Iowa State University within six years of enrolling — national average is 49.9%. First-year retention is 87.6%.
What are the most popular majors at Iowa State University?
137 programs are listed in federal data; 124 have positive share data. The largest reported major at Iowa State University is Business Administration, Management and Operations (5.2%), followed by Mechanical Engineering (4.8%).
What percent of Iowa State University students receive financial aid?
18.8% of Iowa State University students receive a federal Pell Grant — the main need-based federal aid program. 43.3% take federal student loans.
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