Acceptance
89%
Avg SAT
1204
In-State
$10,787
Grad Rate (4yr)
57%
Retention
88%
Earnings
$63,386
AI Overview
Iowa State stands out for its powerhouse STEM and agriculture programs, anchored by world-class research facilities and deep industry partnerships that put students directly into labs and fields from day one. The Ames campus balances Midwestern friendliness with serious academic ambition—think collaborative study groups and hands-on projects over cutthroat competition. Students who thrive here are curious problem-solvers eager to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges. The university's student-run business incubator has launched over 600 startups, giving entrepreneurial minds unusual opportunities for a public institution.
AI-generated interpretation, separate from the federal statistics on this page · refreshed Mar 2026
SAT Score Range
ACT Score Range
In-State Tuition
$10,787
Out-of-State Tuition
$28,881
Room & Board
$10,808
Average Net Price
$18,589
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Take Federal Loans
43%
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,869
6-Year Graduation Rate
1st Year Retention Rate
Median Earnings
10 years after enrollment
$63,386Median Debt
At graduation for completers
$22,869Top Programs by Earnings
Bachelor's degree graduatesComputer Engineering
243 graduates
$105,753
4 yrs after graduation
Computer Science
106 graduates
$104,211
4 yrs after graduation
Construction Engineering
58 graduates
$100,676
4 yrs after graduation
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
112 graduates
$99,705
4 yrs after graduation
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
121 graduates
$94,089
4 yrs after graduation
Business/Managerial Economics
15 graduates
$93,379
4 yrs after graduation
Industrial Engineering
102 graduates
$92,914
4 yrs after graduation
Chemical Engineering
94 graduates
$92,773
4 yrs after graduation
Agricultural Engineering
62 graduates
$88,576
4 yrs after graduation
Mechanical Engineering
356 graduates
$85,938
4 yrs after graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
Available Programs
137+ programsAnd 125 more programs available
Is Iowa State University right for you?
Get your personalized match report in minutes
See if Iowa State University is right for you