Frequently Asked Questions

An international student is generally defined as someone who will be in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa and is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident.

No.

The letter of support is a commitment from the student’s sponsor, typically a parent or guardian, outlining the financial support they will provide. It should specify the annual amount of support and the duration of the sponsorship. Additionally, a bank statement should be provided to show that the funds for the first year are readily available, or an official attestation from a bank officer confirming the availability of the promised funds.

As long as you notify us before your intended enrollment, you can defer your admission for up to one year without needing to submit a new application or fee.

No. If you have attended a university after high school, you are considered a transfer student. If you have completed fewer than 24 credits, you must meet both the first-year and transfer application requirements.

International students who have successfully completed the equivalent of Iowa State's English 1500 or 2500 with a grade of B or higher at an accredited U.S. two-year or four-year college or university are considered to have fulfilled the English proficiency requirement.

No.

Yes, students from countries where English is the sole official language are exempt from English proficiency testing requirements.

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.

Two years.

If you graduate from a U.S. high school, submitting your SAT or ACT scores is optional. If you graduate from a school outside the United States, these exams are not required.