First-year deadlines, 2026–27
| Plan | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Rolling admission The college reviews applications as they arrive until the class is full. | Rolling |
Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean
Source: catalog.iastate.edu · checked September 30, 2026
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026
AP credit
Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit| Exam | Min score | Iowa State University course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 4 | Math 1650 | 4 credits |
| Calculus BC | 3 | Math 1650 | 4 credits |
| Biology | 4 | Biology 1000 | 4 credits |
| Chemistry | 4 | Chemistry 1770, 1780 | 7 credits |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | English 1500 | 3 credits |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | English 1000 or 1500 | 3 credits |
| United States History | 4 | History 2210, 2220 | 6 credits |
| Psychology | 4 | Psychology 1010 | 3 credits |
Show all 37 exams and every score level
| Exam | Min score | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 4 | Math 1650 | 4 credits |
| Calculus BC | 3 | Math 1650 | 4 credits |
| Calculus BC | 4 | Math 1650, 1660 | 8 credits |
| Biology | 4 | Biology 1000 | 4 credits |
| Chemistry | 4 | Chemistry 1770, 1780 | 7 credits |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | English 1500 | 3 credits |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | English 1000 or 1500 | 3 credits |
| United States History | 4 | History 2210, 2220 | 6 credits |
| Psychology | 4 | Psychology 1010 | 3 credits |
| Statistics | 3 | Statistics 1010 | 4 credits |
| Statistics | 4 | Statistics 2010 | 4 credits |
| Computer Science A | 4 | Computer Science 1270 | 4 credits |
| Computer Science A | 5 | Computer Science 1270 and 2270 | 8 credits |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | Economics 1020 | 3 credits |
| Microeconomics | 3 | Economics 1010 | 3 credits |
| World History: Modern | 4 | History 1000 | 6 credits |
| Environmental Science | 3 | Environmental Studies 1000 | 3 credits |
| European History | 4 | History 2010, 2020 | 6 credits |
| Human Geography | 3 | Social Science 1000 | 3 credits |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | Spanish 1010, 1020 | 8 credits |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | Spanish 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 | 16 credits |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | Computer Science 1000 | 3 credits |
| Art History | 3 | Art History 2800 | 3 credits |
| Music Theory | 4 | Music 2240 | 4 credits |
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | Design Studies 1000T | 4 credits |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | Design Studies 1020 | 4 credits |
| African American Studies | 4 | African American Studies 2010 | 3 credits |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | Chinese 1010 | 4 credits |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | Chinese 1010, 1020 | 8 credits |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | Chinese 1010, 1020, 2010 | 12 credits |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | Political Science 1250 | 3 credits |
| Drawing | 4 | Design Studies 1310 | 4 credits |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | French 1010, 1020 | 8 credits |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | French 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 | 16 credits |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | German 1010, 1020 | 8 credits |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | German 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 | 16 credits |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | Italian 1000P | 8 credits |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | Italian 1000P, Italian 2000P | 16 credits |
| Latin | 3 | Latin 1010, 1020 | 8 credits |
| Latin | 4 | Latin 1010, 1020 | 8 credits |
| Physics 1: Algebra-based | 4 | Physics 1310, 1310L | 5 credits |
| Physics 1: Algebra-based | 5 | Physics 1310, 1310L | 5 credits |
| Physics 2: Algebra-based | 4 | Physics 1320, 1320L | 5 credits |
| Physics 2: Algebra-based | 5 | Physics 1320, 1320L | 5 credits |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | Physics 2320, 2320L | 5 credits |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | Physics 2310, 2310L | 5 credits |
| Precalculus | 4 | Math 1430 | 4 credits |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | Spanish 3000* | 3 credits |
| U.S. Government and Politics | 4 | Political Science 1110 | 3 credits |
Source: admissions.iastate.edu · checked September 19, 2026
Biggest majors
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 369 |
| Marketing/Marketing Management | 245 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 234 |
| Animal Sciences | 222 |
| Finance | 215 |
| Psychology | 204 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 173 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences | 173 |
Show the other 92 majors
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 157 |
| Computer Software Engineering | 142 |
| Computer Science | 139 |
| Accounting | 126 |
| Information Technology | 125 |
| Business Administration and Management | 118 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 109 |
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations | 109 |
| Farm/Farm and Ranch Management | 103 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 98 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 98 |
| Civil Engineering | 96 |
| Ecology | 92 |
| Graphic Design | 85 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 79 |
| Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology | 78 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 76 |
| Industrial Engineering | 76 |
| Computer Engineering | 75 |
| Chemical Engineering | 73 |
| Engineering/Industrial Management | 70 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 68 |
| Environmental Science | 66 |
| Human Development and Family Studies | 62 |
| History | 61 |
| Meeting and Event Planning | 60 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 57 |
| English Language and Literature | 57 |
| Agronomy and Crop Science | 57 |
| Interior Design | 57 |
| Construction Engineering | 54 |
| Political Science and Government | 51 |
| Public Relations/Image Management | 45 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 43 |
| Horticultural Science | 43 |
| Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare | 42 |
| Advertising | 42 |
| Chemistry | 41 |
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 40 |
| Mathematics | 38 |
| Journalism | 36 |
| Genetics | 36 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 35 |
| Design and Visual Communications | 35 |
| Statistics | 33 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 32 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies | 32 |
| Microbiology | 31 |
| Materials Engineering | 30 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 30 |
| Sustainability Studies | 28 |
| Forest Sciences and Biology | 28 |
| International Agriculture | 22 |
| Food Science | 21 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 21 |
| Linguistics | 19 |
| Meteorology | 19 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration | 18 |
| Sociology | 18 |
| Biochemistry | 18 |
| Anthropology | 16 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 15 |
| Athletic Training/Trainer | 15 |
| Economics | 15 |
| Computational Science | 15 |
| Family Resource Management Studies | 15 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 14 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 14 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 14 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 14 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 13 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 13 |
| Music Teacher Education | 12 |
| Actuarial Science | 11 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 10 |
| Women's Studies | 10 |
| Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator | 9 |
| Physics | 9 |
| Dairy Science | 9 |
| Music | 8 |
| Public Administration | 8 |
| Philosophy | 8 |
| Agricultural Communication/Journalism | 8 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing | 7 |
| Geology/Earth Science | 7 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 7 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management | 6 |
| Bioinformatics | 4 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 2 |
| Child Development | 1 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 1 |
Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Sports and campus life
Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Big 12
Basketball, Football, Golf, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Wrestling
Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Big 12
Basketball, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball
ROTC
Air Force, Army, Navy
Faith groups
Cru, InterVarsity, Newman Connection
Also
Honors college, Study abroad
Greek life
14% of men in fraternities · 14% of women in sororities · 14% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2023–24)
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), connection.newmanministry.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026
The place
Setting
City, small
Federal locale classification
Metro area
Ames, IA
129,227 people
Big-city metro (1 million+)
No
More about the place
Nearest airport
Des Moines International (DSM)
Nearest hub airport
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Walkability
EPA walkability index 11.5 of 20
Elevation
960 ft
Time zone
Central
January low
11°F
July high
84°F
Annual snowfall
32.7 in
Days at 90°F or higher
17 per year
One-bedroom fair market rent
$940 per month
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Colleges nearby
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary20 mi
- Grand View University28 mi
- Drake University29 mi
- Simpson College46 mi
- Grinnell College51 mi
- Central College57 mi
Straight-line distance between campuses
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Public, city campus, NCAA Division I, similar size
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