Iowa State University
Ames, IA · “Iowa State”
- National University
- Public
- Urban campus
- Cold climate
Known for: Mechanical Engineering, Marketing, Exercise Science & Kinesiology, Animal Sciences, Finance
A public research university in Ames, IA. About 89 of every 100 applicants get in. It gives merit scholarships to international students, not need-based aid.
If you apply from Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar → Ames
- English: TOEFL 71 · IELTS 6 · Duolingo 105
- US News National
- #117
- QS World
- #540
- THE World
- #401
- Forbes
- #146
- After the average intl award
- Full price before aid: ≈$45k/yr
- Admit rate
- 89%
- of applicants get in
- Undergrads
- 25,367
- 3.6% international
Plus shows 6 more facts about this school ↓
Getting in
About 89% of applicants are admitted. It is test-optional, so you do not have to send SAT or ACT scores, though strong ones still help.
- Test policy
- Test-optional, for international students too
- Admit rate for internationals
- Not published by the school
- SAT, middle 50%
- 1120–1360
- ACT, middle 50%
- 21–28
- TOEFL iBT minimum
- 71
- TOEFL iBT 71 with 17+ on Speaking and Writing; PTE 48 also accepted
- IELTS minimum
- 6
- Duolingo (DET) minimum
- 105
- DET 105 minimum
- SAT or ACT can replace the English test
- Yes
Cost & aid
Full price is about $45k a year before aid. Internationals who get aid here pay less. Plus shows how much less.
- Tuition & fees $29k
- Room & board $11k
- Other fees $3k
- Health insurance $3k
- Cost after the average intl award
- Aid for internationals
- Merit
Asking for aid
They decide whether to admit you without looking at your ability to pay, so asking for financial aid does not lower your chances.- Part of the admission decision (need-aware)
Covers all proven need
If they admit you, they cover the full gap between what your family can pay and the total cost, usually with grants you do not repay.- Not published by the school
- Internationals who get aid
- Biggest merit scholarship for internationals
- Average award for internationals
- Yearly aid budget for internationals
- Application fee
- No waiver offered
- Plan for the $50 fee.
- Local living costs
- 81.2 (New York = 100)
- Day-to-day costs are moderate for the US.
6more facts about this school in Plus
Cost after the average intl award
What an international student who gets aid pays here in a year, on average.
Biggest merit scholarship for internationals. Its name, top amount, what it covers and whether it renews.
Average award for internationals. How much aid an international student gets, and what share of the full price it covers.
Internationals who get aid · Yearly aid budget for internationals · Majors with the STEM work extension
And 4 more: Average award for internationals · Internationals who get aid · Yearly aid budget for internationals · Majors with the STEM work extension
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Work & visa
OPT lets graduates work in the US for a year after graduation, and STEM majors can add two more years.
- Study
- OPT 1 year
- STEM OPT +2 years
- Majors with the STEM work extension
- CPT internships
- Yes
- Work off campus in your field while you study
- On-campus jobs
- Yes
- Earn while enrolled, no extra visa needed
- Adviser for international students
- Yes
- Immigration and visa support on campus
- Undergraduate research
- Yes
- Co-op built into the curriculum
- No
- IB or A-level credit recognised
- Yes
- Your diploma can earn course credit
- Visa compliance record
- No known SEVIS issues on record
Life & outcomes
88% of first-year students return for a second year. 75% graduate within six years. Graduates start around $54k a year. About 3.6% of undergraduates are international.
- Median starting salary
- $53,873
- All graduates, all majors. Your field will vary.
- Undergraduates
- 25,367
- International undergraduates
- 913
- Share that is international
- 3.6%
- Countries represented
- 110
Similar universities
- Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO · #151 US News · Need-based and merit aid
- University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · #46 US News · Merit aid
- University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · #151 US News · Need-based and merit aid
- University of HoustonHouston, TX · #132 US News · Need-based and merit aid
- University of KansasLawrence, KS · #143 US News · Merit aid
- University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · #183 US News · Merit aid
Where this comes from
34% of this school's fields are individually verified. Last checked Jul 2, 2026. Figures are for guidance, so always confirm on the school's official pages before you rely on them.
Data sources
- Main source
- College Scorecard (06/2026 release); THE World University Rankings 2026; Intl-aid/CoL batch (2026-06): Numbeo CoL Index; need-blind list per Wikipedia+aggregators; B5/D3 batch (2026-07): co-op per institutional programs; I-20 industry-norm default; SEVIS none-known default; CDS 2025-2026: AppFee/Deadlines/OtherFees (https://www.ir.iastate.edu/files/documents/cds/CDS-25-26.pdf); English-req/test-policy: official intl-admissions pages (2026-07); IntlMisc (countries/SHIP/funnel/outcomes): official intl/ISSS/career pages (2026-07); Programs: NCES College Navigator; FeeWaiver: official admissions (2026-07); STEM-OPT %: DHS STEM List 2024 (6-digit) × Scorecard programs (4-digit CIP, split families adj.) [Jul 1, 2026]; AppFee verified Jul 1, 2026 (official); Deadlines verified Jul 2, 2026 (official)
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