Frequently Asked Questions
The Admissions Partnership Program (APP) is a collaboration between Iowa State University and all Iowa community colleges. It is designed to give current and future community college students a head start on earning a bachelor’s degree at Iowa State. Participants benefit from personalized advising, social opportunities, and guidance in meeting academic requirements, ensuring a smooth and successful transfer to Iowa State.
An Iowa State admissions representative will visit your campus regularly. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to a transfer admissions counselor.
- Students must be enrolled in or accepted to an Iowa community college and pursuing coursework that leads to transfer.
- Students who have attempted community college coursework must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (including PSEO courses or college credit earned in high school). Career technical, military, and developmental/remedial credits do not count toward the academic GPA.
- Students who took courses at Iowa State prior to high school graduation or during the summer immediately following graduation are eligible for APP.
- Applicants must be high school graduates or have an equivalent (GED).
- Students enrolled in the Intensive English Program are not eligible.
- Current or former Iowa State students, including those in off-campus programs, should contact the admissions office to discuss eligibility.
To participate in APP, students must have a cumulative academic GPA of 2.00 or higher. If your GPA falls below this requirement, please reach out to a transfer admissions counselor to explore strategies for improving it.
Please note that career technical, developmental/remedial, and military credits do not count toward your academic GPA.
No, the APP program does not include concurrent enrollment. If you're interested in enrolling through a Cross Enrollment program or Consortium agreement, we encourage you to discuss these options with your community college advisor.
- Enroll at a participating community college and begin taking coursework that will lead to a transfer.
- After you're admitted to the community college, schedule a meeting with an advisor or counselor to determine if APP is the right fit for you.
- Submit your APP application online.
- Send your transcripts from all institutions where you've previously taken college-level coursework, including any classes taken while in high school, to Iowa State University at 100 Enrollment Services Center, Ames, IA 50011.
Students will not be fully admitted into APP until they meet the program’s admission requirements, which include being enrolled at an Iowa community college.
If you plan to enroll at an Iowa community college after graduating from high school and wish to participate in APP, you may apply before registering. However, full admission will only be granted once you have registered for community college courses and graduated from high school.
- Students accepted into APP receive mentoring and guidance from both institutions. They are supported by an academic advisor or counselor at their community college and an academic advisor at Iowa State University.
- Participants also gain access to Iowa State services and resources while still enrolled at their community college. This includes opportunities for career exploration, as well as attending athletic events at student rates.
- Additionally, students can participate in early orientation and registration before transferring.
- As long as all college and program requirements are met, students are guaranteed acceptance into a bachelor's degree program at Iowa State University upon transfer.
APP participants are encouraged to submit their Iowa State University application no later than one semester before their intended start date (excluding summer).
A non-refundable application fee of $55 is required when submitting the application. Students will be admitted to Iowa State University once all admission requirements are met.
No. Students participating in APP are held to the same admissions standards as other students seeking admission.
Participants must fulfill Iowa State's transfer admission requirements. To gain admission to a degree program, students must also meet specific program requirements.
Students who wish to transfer to Iowa State University before completing 24 transferable semester credits must have a minimum GPA of 2.25 and meet Iowa State's first-year admission requirements.
Participants must fulfill Iowa State's transfer admission requirements. To gain admission to a degree program, students must also meet specific program requirements.
Students who wish to transfer to Iowa State University before completing 24 transferable semester credits must have a minimum GPA of 2.25 and meet Iowa State's first-year admission requirements.
The following majors within the College of Design require the completion of the one-year pre-professional Design Core Program: architecture, graphic design, industrial design, integrated studio arts, interior design, and landscape architecture.
Students interested in these majors are encouraged to reach out to Jennifer Anderson for more information about the Design Core Program and its implications for the Admission Partnership Program.
Contact Jennifer Anderson, College of Design:
Email: janders@iastate.edu
Phone: 515-294-0816
Yes, students who are uncertain about their field of study can receive guidance and explore career opportunities at both institutions. Open option students will work with an advisor from Iowa State's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Students participating in APP will receive a tailored plan of study that outlines their path to earning a bachelor's degree. However, changes in major, attending part-time, joining APP later in their community college journey, or not enrolling in coursework as advised may lengthen the time it takes to graduate.
Applicants will receive written notification of their acceptance once Iowa State has processed their application materials and determined eligibility for APP.
We can connect you with the right resources! Just let us know what information you need and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Not necessarily. Participation in the Admissions Partnership Program does not grant residency status at Iowa State University. The criteria for classifying students as residents or non-residents vary between educational institutions. Residency requirements at community colleges differ from those at the Iowa Regents Universities, meaning a student may be considered a resident at a community college but still not meet the residency criteria at Iowa State University.
For more information about residency classification at Iowa State University, please visit the Office of the Registrar's website.
Students can pay their university bill (U-Bill) by sending payment to the Treasurer's Office, 1220 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50011 or by paying online through Workday
To access Workday, students must first set up their ISU Net-ID, which will also serve as the first part of their ISU email address. Detailed instructions for setting up the Net-ID are provided in the offer letter.
No, as an Admissions Partnership Program student, you are not eligible for financial aid at Iowa State University. Financial aid is only available through your community college.
You will be eligible for financial aid consideration at Iowa State once you transfer.
Questions?
Our Transfer Center is here to help.
Current participants
The community college staff will inform Iowa State University's Office of Admissions when a participant is no longer enrolled in community college courses. At that point, the Office of Admissions will remove the student from the program and notify all relevant campus service providers at Iowa State.
Yes, when APP participants are ready to start the transfer process, they must complete the Iowa State transfer application. A $55 application fee is required at the time of submission.
Once an APP participant's transfer coursework has been evaluated by the Iowa State Office of Admissions, the student will be contacted by a college representative and assigned an academic advisor. Advisors are available for support via phone, email, or in person.
To obtain your ISU student identification card, visit 0530 Beardshear Hall on the Iowa State campus in person, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Be sure to bring a valid photo ID and have your Iowa State ID number ready.
You can set up your ISU email account in person at 192 Parks Library, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or online by following the Solution Center's instructions.
(Note: If signing up online, you'll need to create your Net-ID first.)
While APP participants are not required to have an ISU student identification card or email address, it is highly recommended.
Having a student ID allows participants to access many of the benefits offered through APP. Additionally, since email is the primary method of communication between academic advisors and students, setting up an Iowa State email address is strongly encouraged.
Absolutely! You can enjoy recreation services, access Iowa State student organizations, and ride CyRide for free by opting to pay the student activity fee each semester.
To access these services:
- Obtain an Iowa State Student ID card.
- Contact Tuition & Fee Assessment at 515-294-1889 or visit the Enrollment Services Center to have the activity fee added to your University Bill (U-Bill).
- Once the fee appears on your U-Bill, you can submit payment either online through Workday or in person at the Treasurer's Office, 1220 Beardshear Hall.
To purchase athletic tickets, you must pay the student activity fee each semester. To do this, complete the online form to have the fee added to your Iowa State University Bill (U-Bill).
Once the fee is assessed, you’ll gain access to the student athletic ticket lottery system.
For more details about the student athletic ticket lottery system for APP participants, contact a transfer admissions counselor by the end of June.
If you're facing any challenges, please reach out to a transfer admissions counselor.
If a student chooses to withdraw from APP at any point, please inform a transfer admissions counselor.
Yes, while financial aid from your community college may not be available until after your student activity fee is due, you are still responsible for making the payment.
For more information on payment options, please visit the Accounts Receivable website.
If you have any questions or encounter difficulties with payment, feel free to a transfer admissions counselor.
No, student employees must be enrolled in at least one credit at the institution. Once you transfer to Iowa State and begin taking classes, you can explore student employment opportunities.