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Iowa Colleges Admission Statistics

Iowa Best Schools Compare All Iowa Schools Tightest to Admit Highest SAT Scores IA Collegs by SAT score
Acceptance Rate 76.8%
Yield (Enrollment Ratio) 22.89%
Applicants 112,240
Admitted 86,201
Enrolled 19,732

Applying To Iowa Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 76.8% at Iowa colleges and universities, a total of 112,240 students applied and 86,201 were accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $57 and the graduate application fees is $48. The following table presents the general admission information for applying to Iowa colleges.
General Admission Information of Iowa Colleges
Open Admission Policy39 out of 76 schools
Undergraduate Application Fees$57
Graduate Application Fees$48
Acceptance Rate76.8%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)22.89%
Test Scores1,131 SAT / 23 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For the academic year 2023-2024, total 112,240 students (55,218 men and 56,590 women) applied to and 86,201 (41,886 men and 44,104 women) students were accepted to admit Iowa Colleges. Among them, 9,655 men and 10,036 women were enrolled into Iowa schools.
The average acceptance rate is 76.80% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 22.89%. The table below shows the Iowa colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.
Admission Statistics for Iowa Colleges (2023-2024)
TotalMenWomen
Applicants112,24055,21856,590
Admitted86,20141,88644,104
Enrolled19,7329,65510,036
Acceptance Rate 76.80% 75.86% 77.94%
Yield (Enrollment Rate) 22.89% 23.05% 22.76%
[Chart]Iowa Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

In Iowa, 2 colleges require SAT and ACT score and 0 colleges recommend them to their applicant. In addition, 23 colleges consider the test score in selection process, while it is not required.
2,815 students (11.00%) submitted their SAT scores and 9,161 students (41.00%) submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score is 1,240 and 25th percentile score is 1,022. For ACT scores, 75th percentile score is 26 and 25th percentile score is 20.
The following table shows the detailed SAT and ACT scores distribution of first-time enrolled students at Iowa colleges and universities.
SAT and ACT Score Distribution at Iowa Colleges
25th Percentile75th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing514620
SAT Math508620
ACT Composite2026
ACT Math1926
ACT English1926
[Chart] SAT/ACT Distribution - Iowa Colleges
[Chart] Average SAT Scores - Iowa Colleges
[Chart] Average ACT Scores - Iowa Colleges

Calendar System and Accepted Credits

In Iowa State, 45 schools use semester calendar systems and 0 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.
Semester45 out of 76 schools
Quarter0 out of 76 schools
Trimester3 out of 76 schools
Four-one-four plan6 out of 76 schools
Other academic year2 out of 76 schools
Differs by program8 out of 76 schools
Continuous12 out of 76 schools
Next table describes credits that Iowa colleges and universities are accepting for their students
Dual Credits49 out of 76 schools
Credits for Life Experiences37 out of 76 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits52 out of 76 schools
Credit for Military Training43 out of 76 schools

Application Requirements

31 Iowa schools require High School GPA and 29 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 2 Iowa colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to Iowa colleges.
Admission Checklist for Iowa Colleges
RequiredRecommended
High School GPA310
High School Rank20
High School Record (or Transcript)290
Completion of College Preparatory Program60
Recommendations70
Formal Demonstration of Competencies00
Admission Test Scores20
TOEFL270
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)00
Know about Iowa Colleges