Iowa State University

Applying to Iowa State

Application Requirements for Degree-Seeking Students

General Requirements

In order to be considered for enrollment, your bachelor’s degree must have been received from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association. If you attended a non-U.S. college or university, your degree must have been received from a recognized institution where the requirements for the bachelor’s degree are similar to those at Iowa State.

Programs/Departments

Over 120 programs offer advanced degrees at Iowa State University. To find a program that fits your interests, visit our graduate programs page .

Admission Categories

You will enter your particular area of graduate study in one of three admission categories:

• Full Admission Status: You may qualify for full admission if you graduated in the upper one-half of your graduating class with a bachelor’s degree from either a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a recognized foreign institution where the requirements for the bachelor’s degree are similar to those at Iowa State.
• Provisional Admission Status: If you meet the requirements for full admission but lack an adequate academic background in your chosen field, you may still be admitted provisionally.
• Restricted Admission Status: You may be admitted to graduate school in this status if you are in the lower half of your graduating class, or if you lack preparation in your proposed field of study.

Deadlines

Many programs accept applications throughout the year. The Graduate College strongly recommends that for priority consideration of financial support and other program opportunities, all applications should be submitted prior to January 1 for summer and fall and prior to September 1 for spring, prior to the term for which you seek admission. For more information on specific program deadlines, see each program's application requirements page.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

You may wish to reap the benefits of coursework on the Iowa State campus without declaring a specific graduate major or stating a degree objective. Nondegree graduate admission status may be appropriate if you:

• Intend to transfer graduate credits earned at Iowa State to other institutions.
• Intend to use your graduate credits to obtain professional certification.
• Enroll for personal satisfaction.
• Enroll in graduate courses periodically.

At Iowa State, you can change your mind. If you enroll as a graduate student without a declared major or degree objective and subsequently decide to seek an advanced degree, you will need to apply to and be accepted by a program and by the Graduate College. Submit the standard graduate application and its accompanying fee. (No fee is required if you attended Iowa State as an undergraduate.) Also, request that official transcripts be sent to Iowa State from all colleges or universities you have attended.

A maximum of nine graduate credits earned under the nondegree option may be applied toward your graduate degree program. Your graduate program of study committee will recommend to the Graduate College which of these graduate courses (if any) should be included in your degree program of study.

Central campus is home to ISU's distinctive campanile, several wireless access points, and dozens of events throughout the year.