First-year Students - Iowa State University

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class="text-content"> <h2>There are endless paths to Iowa State</h2><p>From the moment you step on campus, you鈥檒l be surrounded by world-class faculty, countless resume-building opportunities, and state-of-the-art facilities鈥攁ll here to support your success. With 800 student organizations, over 100 majors, and an experience you鈥檒l never forget, your future is in the making!</p><h2>Academic requirements</h2><h3>Regent Admission Index</h3><p>Admission decisions will be based on your Regent Admission Index (RAI) score, which is calculated using the following formula:</p><h4>RAI Formula</h4><table class="table-condensed"><tbody><tr><td> </td><td>ACT composite (or converted SAT) score x 3</td></tr><tr><td>+</td><td>Cumulative GPA x 30</td></tr><tr><td>+</td><td>Number of years of high school core courses x 5</td></tr><tr style="border-top:2px solid #000000;"><td> </td><td><strong>RAI (Regent Admission Index)</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><h4>Important notes:</h4><ul><li>SAT scores will be converted to their ACT composite equivalents for this calculation.</li><li>High school GPA is expressed on a 4-point scale (you can use our GPA calculator to convert your GPA if it's not on a 4.0 scale).</li><li>The number of core high school courses is measured in years or fractions of years.</li></ul><p>Applicants with an RAI score of at least 245 and who meet the minimum high school course requirements will be automatically offered admission.</p><p>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.</p><div class="accordion-collapse collapse show" id="flush-collapse862-5" aria-labelledby="flush-heading862-5" data-bs-parent="#accordionFlush862"><div class="accordion-body text-content iastate22-table"><p><span>Iowa State is test-optional for first-year applicants. Students may choose whether they wish to self-report their ACT/SAT scores when they apply for admission. 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. CLT scores can also be submitted for consideration.</span></p><h3>Minimum high school course requirements</h3><p>High school students seeking direct admission to Iowa State University must fulfill the minimum high school course requirements outlined below:</p><table class="table-striped table-condensed"><thead><tr><th>Subject</th><th>Requirement</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>English/Language Arts</td><td>4 years</td><td>Emphasizing writing, speaking, and reading, as well as an understanding and appreciation of literature</td></tr><tr><td>Mathematics</td><td>3 years</td><td>Including one year each of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra</td></tr><tr><td>Science</td><td>3 years</td><td>Including at least two years of courses which emphasize elements of biology, chemistry, or physics</td></tr><tr><td>Social Studies</td><td>2 years</td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><h4>Additional entrance requirements for the Colleges of Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences</h4><p>In addition to the high school course requirements listed above, students applying to the College of Engineering must complete two years of a single foreign language. For those applying to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a third year of social studies and two years of a single foreign language are required.</p><h4>English proficiency requirement for students from Puerto Rico</h4><p>Students graduating from high school in Puerto Rico are automatically deemed to have met Iowa State's English proficiency requirement, regardless of whether they indicate that English is their primary language.</p></div></div> </div></div> </div> <div> <div class="paragraph-widget paragraph-widget--link-block"> <div class="link-block"> <h2>Helpful links</h2> <div class="link-set"> <ul><li> <a href="https://www.iowaregents.edu/institutions/higher-education-links/regent-admission-index" class="link-set__link iastate22-link-secondary">Calculate your RAI<span class="arrow"></span></a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.iowaregents.edu/institutions/higher-education-links/regent-admission-index/rai-info" class="link-set__link iastate22-link-secondary">Convert your SAT score to an ACT equivalent<span class="arrow"></span></a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/gpa-calculator" class="link-set__link iastate22-link-secondary">Calculate your GPA<span class="arrow"></span></a> </li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="paragraph-widget paragraph-widget--accordion"> <div class="accordion accordion-flush" id="accordionFlush862"> <div class="accordion-item"> <h2 class="accordion-header" id="flush-heading862-1"> <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#flush-collapse862-1" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="flush-collapse862-1"> Nontraditional students </button> </h2> <div id="flush-collapse862-1" class="accordion-collapse collapse" aria-labelledby="flush-heading862-1" data-bs-parent="#accordionFlush862"> <div class="accordion-body text-content"> <p>Nontraditional students are subject to the same high school course requirements as all incoming first-year students. However, since research indicates that standard indicators of high school performance (such as GPA and class rank) may not always accurately predict academic success for nontraditional students, those with an RAI score below 245 are still encouraged to apply for admission.</p><p><a href="/admission-and-aid/admissions/military-and-nontraditonal-students" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="7b403459-bdc4-440e-91c4-5540f0f36fea" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Military and Nontraditional Students">Nontraditional admissions</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="accordion-item"> <h2 class="accordion-header" id="flush-heading862-2"> <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#flush-collapse862-2" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="flush-collapse862-2"> General Equivalency Diploma (GED) </button> </h2> <div id="flush-collapse862-2" class="accordion-collapse collapse" aria-labelledby="flush-heading862-2" data-bs-parent="#accordionFlush862"> <div class="accordion-body text-content"> <p>General Equivalency Diploma (GED) applicants are welcome to enroll at Iowa State University. The specific GED score requirements for admission depend upon when the GED test was taken.</p> <h4>GED taken prior to 2014</h4> <p>Applicants who have achieved an overall average score at the 50th percentile or higher with no score lower than the 45th percentile will be offered admission. Applicants are also required to achieve GED sub-test scores at the 75th percentile for subject areas in which they did not satisfy the Minimum High School Course Requirements for Admission.</p> <h4>GED taken in 2014 or later</h4> <p>Applicants who have achieved a score of 170 or higher on each of the four content areas (Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies) will be offered admission.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="accordion-item"> <h2 class="accordion-header" id="flush-heading862-3"> <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#flush-collapse862-3" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="flush-collapse862-3"> High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) </button> </h2> <div id="flush-collapse862-3" class="accordion-collapse collapse" aria-labelledby="flush-heading862-3" data-bs-parent="#accordionFlush862"> <div class="accordion-body text-content"> <p>Iowa uses the HiSET exam as the official assessment for individuals seeking a high school equivalency diploma. The HiSET consists of five sub-tests: Language Arts (Reading), Language Arts (Writing), Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. Each sub-test is scored on a scale from 1-20, with a score of 8 considered "passing" and 15 deemed "college ready." The total HiSET score ranges from 1-100.</p><p>First-year applicants with a minimum total score of 75 and at least 15 on each sub-test will be automatically offered admission. Those not meeting these criteria will be evaluated individually.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="accordion-item"> <h2 class="accordion-header" id="flush-heading862-4"> <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#flush-collapse862-4" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="flush-collapse862-4"> Home-schooled students </button> </h2> <div id="flush-collapse862-4" class="accordion-collapse collapse" aria-labelledby="flush-heading862-4" data-bs-parent="#accordionFlush862"> <div class="accordion-body text-content"> <p>Iowa State welcomes home-schooled students each year as first-year applicants.</p><p>In addition to the first-year application, home-schooled students are required to submit:</p><ul><li>A home school transcript</li><li>A high school transcript if any courses were taken at a local high school</li><li>College transcript(s) if college courses were attempted</li></ul><p>Applicants may choose to submit ACT or SAT scores, which must be sent directly from the testing agency.</p><p><strong>GPA policy for home-schooled students</strong><br>When calculating GPA, only grades assigned by an independent entity (such as a high school, college, or accredited online program) are included. Home-schooled students must have completed at least 12 semester credits of college-level coursework or 5 Carnegie units of high school-level coursework (or a combination) to establish a GPA.</p><p>Applicants without enough independently assigned grades will undergo individual review, which includes a holistic evaluation of their academic record, ACT/SAT scores, high school core classes, and additional coursework.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="site-footer"> <div class="site-footer__flex-wrap"> <a href="https://www.iastate.edu" class="site-footer__logo"> <img src="/themes/custom/iastate2022/img/iowa-state-university-logo-with-tagline-sci-tech.svg" alt="Iowa State University of Science and Technology" /> </a> <div class="site-footer__social-links-wrap"> <ul class="site-footer__social"><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/iowastateu/"><i class="fak fa-iastate22-instagram"></i><span class="visible-for-screen-readers">Instagram</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/isunewsservice"><i class="fa-brands fa-youtube"></i><span class="visible-for-screen-readers">Youtube</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/IowaStateU"><i class="fa-brands fa-facebook"></i><span class="visible-for-screen-readers">Facebook</span></a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/IowaStateU"><i class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></i><span class="visible-for-screen-readers">X-Twitter</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.threads.net/@iowastateu"><i class="fa-brands fa-threads"></i><span class="visible-for-screen-readers">Threads</span></a></li></ul> <nav class="site-footer__primary-nav" aria-label="Footer Primary"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/forms.php/contact">Request Info</a> </li> <li> <a href="/admission-and-aid/apply" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/78">Apply</a> </li> <li> <a href="/admission-and-aid/visit" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/79">Visit</a> </li> <li> <a href="/contact" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/58">Contact</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1463/giving/interior.aspx?sid=1463&gid=1&pgid=1534&cid=4916&appealcode=200OLOL" target="_blank">Give</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <nav class="site-footer__secondary-nav" aria-label="Footer Secondary"> <h2 class="site-footer__section-label">Quick Links</h2> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.news.iastate.edu">News</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://cyclones.com/">Athletics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/index" data-drupal-link-system-path="index">A-Z Index</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.info.iastate.edu">Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jobs.iastate.edu">Employment</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.event.iastate.edu/">Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://freespeech.iastate.edu/">Free speech</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.lib.iastate.edu">Library</a> </li> <li> <a href="/principles-community" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/28">Principles of Community</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="site-footer__departments-nav" aria-label="Footer Departments"> <ul><li><p class="site-footer__section-label">General Information</p><a class="site-footer__section-email" href="mailto:contact@iastate.edu">contact@iastate.edu</a><a class="site-footer__section-phone" href="tel:515-294-4111">515-294-4111</a></li><li><p class="site-footer__section-label">Admissions</p><a class="site-footer__section-email" href="mailto:admissions@iastate.edu">admissions@iastate.edu</a><a class="site-footer__section-phone" href="tel:515-294-5836">515-294-5836</a></li></ul> </nav> </div> <div class="site-footer__bottom-wrap"> <nav class="site-footer__utility-nav" aria-label="Footer Utility"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/disclaimers-and-terms">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.policy.iastate.edu/policy/discrimination">Non-discrimination Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.digitalaccess.iastate.edu/">Digital Access and Accessibility</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/consumer-information">Consumer Information</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="site-footer__copyright"> <p>© Iowa State University of Science and Technology</p> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); 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First-year Students - Iowa State University