Your questions answered

Whether you’re just starting your application or need help with specific details, this page is designed to guide you every step of the way.

    Please visit the graduate programs directory to find the relevant departmental contact information.

    Fee waivers are available only to McNair Scholars. U.S. military veterans will have their application fee deferred until enrollment. All other fee waivers or vouchers are provided directly by the program to which you are applying. Please locate your desired program and contact the staff listed on the program page for more details.

    McNair Scholars can receive a fee waiver by selecting the McNair option on the application and submitting an official document from your McNair director or staff confirming your participation to grad_college@iastate.edu.

    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:

    1. Earning a Degree from an English-Medium University

    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.

    2. Submitting Official English Language Test Scores

    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:

    • Paper-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL Paper-Based Test): 550
    • Internet-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT): 79
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5
    • Pearson Test of English (PTE): 53
    • Duolingo English Test: (approved through Spring 2026): 105 (Summer 2025 & Fall 2025), 115 (Spring 2026)
    Submission instructions

    Students should upload unofficial copies of their exam results to their application through their Admissions MyAccount. Unofficial scores will be utilized for application evaluation. Students that receive offers of admission must submit official exam scores. Official scores must be sent directly from the examination provider. 

    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

    Iowa State's institution code is 6306. Department codes are not required, as all GRE scores are sent electronically to Admissions and are subsequently made available to the respective departments.

    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 and obtain approval from a graduate program and the Graduate College.

    Log into your Admissions MyAccount. Under the Up Next section, click the “Start New Application” button. Enter the appropriate information for additional programs.

    Log back into your Admissions MyAccount. Under the Up Next section, click the “View my Application(s)” button. From there, ensure you have selected the correct application but clicking the “+“ link and expanding the application. You can update or upload new documents by clicking the “Upload” buttons for each action item. Please note, you will not be able to remove any documents that have already been uploaded.

    Simply return to your Admissions MyAccount. Under the Up Next section, click the “View my Application(s)” button. You can view the status of each application on the Manage Applications page.  At the top of the application, you can find the status. If it says “Under Review”, this means that the admissions department is overlooking your application ensuring that all of the correct documents have been submitted and that all requirements are met. 

    During this time, look down the list of action items in your application and ensure that all required documents have been submitted and that your references have completed their Letter of Request forms and submitted them. It is important to remember that all documents must be reviewed and indexed. This can take a number of business days and your application will not show completion of these documents until that has been done.

    If your status says, “Under Program Review”, this means that you have all the required documents submitted and that your application is sitting with the department awaiting review. The timeline for completion is up to each department, so you would need to reach out to them specifically if you are curious when decisions will be made.

    If your status says, “Decision Complete”, you can expect a communication to arrive shortly either from the department or the admissions team with more information about the decision on your application.

    Emails are only sent to recommenders once your application is submitted and the fee is paid (if applicable). If they have not received the email, you can resend it by managing* your Letters of Recommendation. Be sure to verify that the email address you provided is correct. Additionally, recommenders should check their spam or junk mail folder if the email hasn't appeared in their inbox.

    *Iowa State’s Admissions MyAccount system allows you to track and manage your online LOR requests.

    Steps to access and manage LORs:
    1. Log in to Admissions MyAccount.
    2. Select “View my Application(s)” to track the status of LORs.
    3. Utilize the following options as needed:
      • Cancel: Remove an incomplete request and add a new recommender.
      • Resend: Send a reminder email to a recommender.
      • Edit: Correct email address errors or update information if the recommender opts to submit a paper letter.
      • Add new recommender: Send a request to a new recommender not listed on your original application.

    If a recommender prefers not to use the online system, follow these steps:

    1. Download the PDF letter of recommendation form from our website.
    2. Complete Sections 1 and 3, then save the form.
    3. Send the form to your recommender, ensuring you include the contact information (email or postal address) for the program to which you are applying. Program contact details can be found in the program requirements section of the website.
    Important notes for PDF LORs:
    • PDF recommendations cannot be tracked in Admissions MyAccount. They must be sent directly to the graduate program office.
    • Programs may upload received PDF letters to your Admissions MyAccount on your behalf.
    • Do not send PDF LORs to the Office of Admissions.

    By following these guidelines, you ensure your recommendation letters are submitted smoothly and support your application effectively.

    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.

    Considerations for waiving your rights:
    • Recommenders are often more candid when letters remain confidential.
    • Some recommenders may refuse to write letters for applicants who do not waive their rights.
    • Your waiver selection can be changed from visible to waived by managing your LORs (section above) after your application has been submitted.
    • Once you have chosen to waive your right to view your applications, you cannot switch your choice to view them.

    Graduate students accept their offer through their Admissions MyAccount. After receiving an email notice confirming that an admissions decision has been rendered. Students should log on to their account and application. Students can accept or decline their offer of admission by selecting the corresponding button.

    No. There is no fee associated with accepting your offer. However, it is important to note that if your department utilizes a deferred application fee and you have yet to pay this fee, it will appear on your first university bill.

    Now that you've been offered admission to Iowa State University, you are required to submit official copies of your final academic records and degree statements if you haven’t already. Please note that the documents you uploaded during the application process are not considered official.

    Although we review applications using unofficial documents, we require that official academic documents be submitted promptly. If you have completed your studies, please send these documents within four weeks of receiving your admission offer.

    Failure to provide all required documents by the 10th day of the term will result in a registration hold, which will prevent you from registering for classes until the required documents are submitted.

    If you are unable to meet this deadline, please contact the Office of Admissions as soon as possible. In certain cases, students may be permitted to bring their official documents to campus and submit them upon arrival. Please contact Admissions to request approval for this option.

    Not official or incomplete

    Records are considered UNOFFICIAL if:

    • They are a reproduction of the copy issued by the university (scanned, photographed, photocopied, etc.)
    • They do not contain the proper stamps or seals that would make it official.
    • They were emailed or uploaded by the applicant.
    • They were attached to an email without a method of secure delivery such as a passcode or QR code.
    • They are records from individuals who are not primarily responsible for maintaining academic records, such as lecturers or professors.

    Records are considered INCOMPLETE if:

    • They were sent to Iowa State  before the degree was awarded.
    • You’re an international student that applied using a complete official transcript but didn’t send an official copy of the degree statement/diploma.

    U.S. transcripts

    Official transcripts must be sent directly from the university registrar to the Iowa State Office of Admissions. The transcript should bear the official stamp or seal of the registrar. Degree statements are not required from U.S. institutions as degrees awarded will be reflected on the transcript.

    International academic records

    Academic records vary in name by country. For example:

    • In the U.S., these are called "transcripts."
    • In India, they are referred to as "annual marksheets."
    • In Spanish-speaking countries, they may be called "certificado de estudios."
    • In France, they are "relevé de notes."

    International academic records should be in the official language of the country where they were earned. If not in English, an official English translation should be included. We accept literal (not interpretative) translations from any qualified translator.

    To be considered official, international academic records must bear the original stamp or seal of the responsible school official (e.g., registrar, principal, or controller of exams).

    Specific Country Requirements

    Central & South America:

    An apostille-stamped original-language document is acceptable if it is stamped by the registrar of your institution, with an original seal of your institution, and preferably contained in sealed and stamped envelopes from your institution.  A notary or apostille outside of your registrar office will not be accepted as official versions for the Spanish documents. However, a certified translator's original signature/stamp from outside of the registrar's office is acceptable for the English translation.

    When transcripts are translated, grades should be translated as shown on the original language document and must not be converted to a U.S. grading scale. Converted grades will not be accepted.

    China: 

    For your official, final academic documents, we require both:

    • Report of China Higher Education Academic Transcript
    • Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate

    Students are required to submit certified transcripts and degree statements in both Mandarin and English. We accept transcripts from institutions that include both languages. For documents only issued in Mandarin, we require a certified English translation must be sent to our office or hand-delivered upon your campus arrival (admissions office address in section below).

    Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan: 

    Submit certified mark sheets/transcripts with degree certificates, along with English translations if needed.

    European Bologna Complaint Countries: 

    Provide the official Diploma Supplement, which includes coursework, grades, and degree verification.

    France: 

    Many institutions in France do not provide a diploma supplement or English translation of their credentials. In those cases, please have the credentials in French sent to our office (address above). You must also include English translations from any certified translator.

    India:

    Transcripts

    • Consolidated transcripts are accepted from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and from universities using a 10-point scale as long as retakes are marked. 

    Marksheets

    • Semester/annual marksheets are required for institutions who use marks other than a 10-point scale.
    • Marksheets can be from autonomous institutions, but degree certificates must be from the issuing university. If the institution is not autonomous, marksheets must be certified by the university.
    • Marksheets musted be attested/certified before being sent to Iowa State.

    Degree Statements

    • Degree statements must be attested/certified before being sent to Iowa State.
    • Proof of degree is a clear statement confirming the name of the degree and the date the degree was “granted”, “awarded”, or “conferred”.
    • For recently awarded degrees, a provisional certificate is acceptable if it meets ALL of the following criteria:
      • It was issued no more than 2 years ago.
      • The name of the degree awarded is specified.
      • The date of the degree completion is shown.
      • Final division/placement/GPA is shown.
      • It clearly states that the DEGREE WILL BE AWARDED. 

    Iran:

    Original officially translated transcripts and diplomas will have the red, white, and green stamp fastening documents together in the upper left corner. These can be brought to our office for review when you arrive on campus if your university is unable to send these. The translated transcript and degree statement must either have an official original stamp from the university or must be translated by a translator to the Judiciary. After documents have been officially translated, they must be presented to the Ministry of Justice and receive the Judiciary stamp and seals.   

    Mexico:

    Students should have their institution send official copies in Spanish to our office via mail or courier (address above). An English translation must be included if the institutions provides translational services. 

    If your institution does not provide translation services, please obtain a certified translation from a professional translation service. Grades must be translated as shown on the original language document and should not be converted to a U.S. grading system. Translations with converted grades will not be accepted.

    Taiwan:

    Students are required to submit certified transcripts and degree statements in both Mandarin and English. We accept transcripts from institutions that include both languages. For documents only issued in Mandarin, we require a certified English translation must be sent to our office or hand-delivered upon your campus arrival (admissions office address above).

    If you have questions or need further clarification about these requirements, please reach out to the Office of Admissions.

    All students, regardless of origin, may have their institutions send their academic documents directly to Iowa State University via courier or mail. Students may send official, final documents IF the document is in an envelope that has been sealed and stamped by the issuing university. All copies sent to Iowa State University will not be returned. These documents can be sent to:

    Iowa State University
    Office of Admissions
    100 Enrollment Services Center
    2433 Union Drive
    Ames, IA 50011-2042

    All materials submitted in support of your admission application become the property of Iowa State University and will not be returned in either original or copy form.

    If you are unable to send your documents or have them sent by your university, you may hand deliver the official, final copies to our office (address above). Original transcripts, marks sheets, and diplomas must be issued on university letterhead and have original stamps/signatures or original embossed seals. It is preferable that these come in unopened envelopes sealed and stamped by the university whenever possible. You will also need certified translations if English translations are not provided by your university. Admissions personnel will verify authenticity of your documents, scan them, and return these to you usually in the same visit.

    Currently, we are limited in our ability to accept electronic copies of official, final documents. Some countries or regions offer services from trusted partners that we are willing to accept. More details for these can be found below. 

    Below you will find information on a selection of specific regions or countries pertaining to which documents we require and the types of delivery methods that we accept. If you cannot find your country below, follow the instructions for mail, courier, or in-person delivery above.

    Specific Country/Region Electronic Delivery Methods

    Australia & New Zealand:

    Graduate Admissions will accept electronic transcripts sent through My eQuals secure transfer service of Australia and New Zealand.

    See the list of Australian and New Zealand My eQual educational providers to learn if your university works with the company. 

    Please have your electronic documents sent to etranscript@iastate.edu. If your school has a secure document transfer service, the documents can be sent directly to this email address. Electronic documents sent as PDF attachments without a form of secure transfer (password protected, QR code, etc.) will not be accepted.

    China:

    The Chinese Ministry of Education has designated CSSD as the sole national verification system for all official academic credentials coming out of China. CSSD Reports must be sent to etranscript@iastate.edu. DO NOT enter your personal email address on the CSSD website.

    Ghana:

    Electronic copies of transcripts will be accepted from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). You must request transcripts from registrar@knust.edu.gh to be sent to be specifically by transcriptservice@knust.edu.gh. We will not accept transcripts from any other KNUST email address. These can be sent to etranscript@iastate.edu.

    Hong Kong:

    Many schools in Hong Kong will send academic documents using a secure document transfer service. These can be sent directly to etranscript@iastate.edu. Electronic documents sent as PDF attachments without a form of secure transfer (password protected, QR code, etc.) will not be accepted.

    Iran:

    We accept electronic copies of official, final academic documents directly from Sharif University of Technology sent to etranscript@iastate.edu. Iowa State also accepts documents from Iranian universities using QR code verification.

    Nigeria:

    We accept the electronic delivery of official, final documents from a select group of Nigerian universities. Students should request these documents to be sent to etranscript@iastate.edu from the specific email address below. If documents are received from any other university address, they will not be accepted.

    Pakistan:

    We accept the electronic delivery of official, final documents from Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS). Students should request these documents to be sent to etranscript@iastate.edu. The LUMS registrar’s office must send these via the address registrar@lums.edu.pk. If documents are received from any other university address, they will not be accepted.

    Singapore:

    Students who graduated after 2018 may have been issued official electronic credentials through the OpenCert credential system developed by the Government Technology Agency of Singapore. Email an attached OpenCert file of your academic documents to etranscript@iastate.edu. The graduate admissions team will verify the file on the OpenCert verification page. 

    If you are unsure if your institution has access to this technology, please contact your registrar office to find out.

    South Korea:

    Most Korean universities use secure transfer for their academic documents. Students should have their institutions send official copies in English to etranscript@iastate.edu. Korean language transcripts are not required as long as the university is the issuer of the English translated documents. 

    Taiwan: 

    We accept the electronic delivery of official, final documents from National Taiwan University. Students should request these documents to be sent to etranscript@iastate.edu. The registrar’s office must send these via the edocument@ntu.edu.tw. If documents are received from any other university address, they will not be accepted.

    Explore housing options through the Department of Residence.

    Reach out to your graduate department for details on class registration.

    Questions?

    The Office of Admissions is here to help.