univstats
  1. Home
    2. ›
  2. State Data
    3. ›
  3. Iowa
    4. ›
  4. Admission

Iowa Colleges Admission Statistics

Iowa Best Schools Compare All Iowa Schools Tightest to Admit Highest SAT Scores
Acceptance Rate 71.98%
Yield (Enrollment Ratio) 23.26%
Applicants 118,881
Admitted 85,573
Enrolled 19,908

Applying To Iowa Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 71.98% at Iowa colleges and universities where total 118,881 students have applied and 85,573 have been accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $50.57 and the graduate application fees is $45.59. Next table presents the general admission information for applying to Iowa colleges.
General Admission Information of Iowa Colleges
Open Admission Policy48 out of 87 schools
Average Undergraduate Application Fees$ 50.57
Average Graduate Application Fees$ 45.59
Average Acceptance Rate71.98%
Average Yield (Enrollment Rate)23.26%
Average Test Scores1,114 SAT / 67 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For academic year 2019-2020, total 118,881 students (54,950 men and 63,930 women) applied to and 85,573 (39,224 men and 46,349 women) students were accepted to admit Iowa Colleges. Among them, 9,629 men and 10,279 women were enrolled into Iowa schools. The average acceptance rate is 71.98% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 23.26%. The table below shows the Iowa colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.
Admission Statistics for Iowa Colleges (2019-2020)
TotalMenWomen
Applicants118,88154,95063,930
Admitted85,57339,22446,349
Enrolled19,9089,62910,279
Acceptance Rate 71.98% 71.38% 72.50%
Enrollment Ratio 23.26% 24.55% 22.18%
[Chart]Iowa Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

For Iowa college, 4,192 students (25.54% of enrolled) have submitted their SAT scores and 16,105 students (79.15%) have submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score is 1,224 and 25th percentile score is 1,005. For ACT scores, 75th percentile score is 77 and 25th percentile score is 57. Next table shows the detail SAT and ACT scores distribution of enrolled students at Iowa colleges and universities.
SAT and ACT Score Distribution at Iowa Colleges
25th Percentile75th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing496.46611.71
SAT Math508.13612.50
ACT Composite20.0025.65
ACT Math18.6225.27
ACT English18.7725.58
[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, 44 schools use semester calendar systems and 0 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.
Semester44 out of 87 schools
Quarter0 out of 87 schools
Trimester4 out of 87 schools
Four-one-four plan7 out of 87 schools
Other academic year7 out of 87 schools
Differs by program7 out of 87 schools
Continuous17 out of 87 schools
Un-Known/Other1 out of 87 schools
Next table describes credits that Iowa colleges and universities are accepting for their students
Dual Credits58 out of 87 schools
Credits for Life Experiences46 out of 87 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits58 out of 87 schools
Credit for Military Training48 out of 87 schools

Application Requirements

30 Iowa schools require High School GPA and 31 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 24 Iowa colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to Iowa colleges.
Admission Checklist for Iowa Colleges
RequiredRecommended
High School GPA302
High School Rank615
High School Record (or Transcript)311
Completion of College Preparatory Program720
Recommendations96
Formal Demonstration of Competencies01
Admission Test Scores244
TOEFL282
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)00

Know about Iowa Colleges