Welcome to the comprehensive guide for applying to graduate programs at Iowa State University. Here, you’ll find everything you need to successfully navigate the application process, from understanding admission requirements and deadlines to submitting transcripts and supplemental materials. Whether you’re preparing to apply or have questions along the way, this page is your go-to resource for ensuring a smooth application experience.
Admission requirements are determined by both the Graduate College and the individual graduate programs. Below are the general criteria for graduate admission at Iowa State University:
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university before beginning graduate studies. This is a fundamental requirement, and appeals to waive it are not considered.
International degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher and granted by a college or university recognized by the Ministry of Education in that country.
Note: 3-year degrees from India, Bangladesh, Canada (excluding Quebec), Nepal, and Pakistan are not accepted. Degrees from other countries are evaluated individually.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to a B grade) is required for admission.
Applicants must meet the English proficiency requirements set by both the Graduate College and the specific graduate program they are applying to, prior to enrollment.
While Iowa State University does not have a university-wide requirement for the GRE or GMAT, most graduate programs require one of these tests. Applicants should review the specific requirements of their intended program.
These criteria help ensure that all admitted students are prepared for success in their graduate studies.
Deadlines mark the final step in the application process—the point by which your application must be complete—rather than the starting point. To ensure timely consideration, all required materials (except examination results) should be submitted by the program's stated deadline. It’s important to note that graduate programs differ in their policies regarding late applications, so meeting the deadline is strongly encouraged.
Some programs may postpone the application fee collection until after your application has been reviewed. If you are admitted, your program may cover the fee or defer it to your first university bill upon enrollment.
If variations of your name appear on examination score reports or academic records, please provide those variations in the designated field. If you have only one name, enter it in the "Last Name" or "Surname" field. International applicants should use the exact spelling shown on their passport to avoid issues with the visa process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires international students seeking a visa to provide a residential address outside the United States. Avoid using PO Box addresses whenever possible, as express mail carriers typically do not deliver to PO boxes.
List your most recent university first, including your current institution.
For applicants from India: List the university awarding your degree, not the affiliated or constituent college you attend.
You may self-report your cumulative undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) GPA on the application, using a numerical value without converting it to a 4.0 scale. This information, along with your transcripts and degree statements, will be reviewed during the application process. Once your transcripts are evaluated, your graduate admissions GPA will be calculated by the Office of Admissions.
All programs require a 500-word statement of purpose. Be concise and proofread carefully, as no changes can be made after submission. You will upload this document in your Admissions MyAccount after completing your application.
Iowa State prefers the use of its online recommendation system. Provide your recommenders’ names and email addresses on the application form, and they will receive an email with a link to the online Letter of Recommendation form after you submit your application. Detailed instructions can be found in the "Letter of Recommendation" section.
If you were enrolled as a degree-seeking graduate student at Iowa State within the last two years, reapplication is unnecessary. Contact your major professor or the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) for guidance on continuing in your program.
If it has been more than two years since your enrollment, submit a "Reinstatement to Active Status" form (available on the Graduate College website) and obtain approval from a graduate program and the Graduate College.
To ensure timely receipt and processing, all required examinations should be completed at least six weeks before your graduate program’s application deadline. Official test results must be sent directly to Iowa State University by the testing agency to be considered valid.
After submitting your application, upload copies of your examination results in your Admissions MyAccount. While these copies are unofficial, they can assist the university in locating your official scores during the application review process.
English may be considered your primary language if it is the language you are most proficient in and/or the first language you learned and spoke from childhood in your home. If English is not your primary language, you must meet the university’s English proficiency requirements through one of the following methods:
You may satisfy the English proficiency requirement if you have completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an English-medium institution in an English-speaking country. These countries recognize English as an official language:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Micronesia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
If you have not earned a degree from an English-speaking country, you must provide official scores from one of the following exams. Both the Graduate College and your specific graduate program's minimum requirements must be met. The minimum scores accepted by the Graduate College are:
Official TOEFL results must be sent electronically directly from the educational testing service to Iowa State. Our school code is 6306. The IELTS testing agency may send electronic results or mail official results to:
Office of Admissions
Iowa State University
100 Enrollment Services Center
2433 Union Drive
Ames, IA 50011-2042
Most graduate programs do not have strict GRE score cutoffs. Instead, applications are reviewed holistically, considering all submitted materials and credentials. Official GRE scores should be sent electronically using the school code 6306 (no department codes are required). Check your Admissions MyAccount for program-specific exam requirements.
The GMAT is required for some business-related programs. Review the program requirements page to determine if the GMAT is necessary for your application. After submitting your application, check your Admissions MyAccount for program-specific exam requirements.
Applicants may upload official copies of academic records for initial application review. If you are offered admission, you will be required to provide official academic records. Detailed instructions can be found in the Uploading Documents and Official Academic Records sections.
Academic records go by different names worldwide. For example:
Records are considered official when they bear the original stamp or seal of the institution's authorized official (e.g., registrar, principal, or controller of exams). Documents certified by professors, lecturers, or other non-authorized personnel are not considered official. Records printed from a school’s website are also not accepted.
International students may submit course-by-course evaluations from World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). These evaluations should include copies of your transcripts and can be uploaded or sent directly to Iowa State.
If your transcript includes an encrypted electronic signature, it cannot be uploaded directly. Print a copy, rescan it, and then upload the rescanned version.
Academic records must be in the official language of the country where they were earned. If the language is not English, include a literal (word-for-word) English translation from a qualified translator alongside the original document. Interpretative translations are not accepted.
If you were previously enrolled at Iowa State, you do not need to request your transcripts. The Office of Admissions will retrieve them directly.
Under the U.S. Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), enrolled students have the right to access their application files, including letters of recommendation. Many institutions, including Iowa State, offer applicants the option to voluntarily waive this right, meaning you forgo the ability to view recommendation letters if you enroll.
If a recommender does not receive the email notification with the link to submit their recommendation, take the following steps:
Iowa State’s Admissions MyAccount system allows you to track and manage your online LOR requests.
If a recommender prefers not to use the online system, follow these steps:
By following these guidelines, you ensure your recommendation letters are submitted smoothly and support your application effectively.
To streamline the application process and save you the time, effort, and expense of mailing materials, Iowa State allows you to upload supplemental documents directly to your Admissions MyAccount after submitting your application. These materials will be used for the admissions decision. Official academic records are required only if you are offered admission.
Documents should be uploaded directly to the action items listed in your Admissions MyAccount. You can also upload additional documents not explicitly requested, which may still be reviewed by programs during the evaluation process.
To ensure your documents meet requirements:
In your Admissions MyAccount, you can track and manage all requested action items and upload documents. Keep in mind:
If you are unable to prepare legible scanned documents, your application will still be fully considered as long as official transcripts are received by the Office of Admissions by the required deadline.
Iowa State reserves the right to rescind admission offers if discrepancies are found between uploaded and official documents, if any records are forged or altered, or if essays, statements, or supplemental materials contain plagiarized content. If such issues are discovered after enrollment, disciplinary action, including dismissal, may be taken.
By following these guidelines, you ensure that your application materials are complete, accurate, and submitted on time for review.
Once your online application, required academic records (transcripts), and satisfactory examination results are received, the Office of Admissions will review your file for completeness. During peak review periods, this process may take up to three weeks.
For information on decision timelines, please contact the specific graduate program directly.
For F-1 or J-1 visa holders:
To enroll at Iowa State, you must formally accept your offer of admission:
If the graduate dean approves your admission to Iowa State University, you will be instructed to submit hard copies of your official final academic records and degree statements. Please note that the documents uploaded during your application process are not considered official.
Office of Admissions
100 Enrollment Services Center
2433 Union Drive
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2042
In some cases, Graduate Admissions can accept official electronic transcripts sent directly from your institution. To submit electronic transcripts, ask your institution’s registrar to send them securely to etranscript@iastate.edu through an approved document-transfer service.
Please note: Not all institutions, especially international ones, can send transcripts via an approved secure transfer service. Electronic transcripts sent as PDF attachments will not be accepted as official.
All documents submitted in support of your application become the property of Iowa State University and will not be returned in original or copied form.
We are always happy to assist students throughout the application process. Before reaching out, we kindly ask that you review all instructions carefully, as your questions may already be addressed. Additionally, we offer a helpful list of frequently asked questions on our website.
To ensure you are directed to the appropriate office, please note the following areas of responsibility:
100 Enrollment Services Center
2433 Union Drive
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2011
Phone: 515-294-5836
Fax: 515-294-2592
Email: admissions@iastate.edu
Please search for your specific program to find the appropriate contact information.
