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Fall 2025 enrollment climbs to 31,105

September 11, 2025
A view of the packed student section during the 2025 CyHawk football game.

AMES, Iowa – For the third consecutive year, enrollment at Iowa State University is up, due in part to a first-year record retention rate of just over 89% and growth in first-year students. Total enrollment stands at 31,105, which is an increase of 673 students. 

This fall’s first-year class of 6,160 students is the largest since fall 2016 and marks five years of consecutive growth – 21.5% since fall 2020. More than half of first-years students are from Iowa.

“Iowa State’s innovative Degrees of the Future and excellence in engineering, agriculture and many other fields are attracting more and more students to Ames leading to another year of impressive growth,” said Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa State University President. “Our exciting entrepreneurial programs, internships at our expanding ISU Research Park, study abroad support and more make Iowa State a destination campus for students wanting a tangible return on their investment.”

Iowa State also saw growth in new transfer students – a total of 1,351 – with nearly 60% coming from Iowa community colleges. Iowa State offers the DMACC-ISU Connect program and collaborates with all Iowa community colleges through the Admissions Partnership Program to provide a seamless transfer for students. 

Paige Kaster transferred this fall after graduating from DMACC in Ankeny. The animal science major from Albia says Iowa State was always part of her plan, and having the support of ISU advisors, while she was at DMACC, helped ensure she stayed on track. 

“It gave me reassurance and made me feel comfortable about transferring,” Kaster said. “My advisor, Kelsey Powell, answered all my questions about transcripts, applications and classes, which really set my mind at ease.” 

Financial assistance is another important factor for many students. This fall, 73% of undergraduate students and 80% of first-year students are supported through scholarships and grants.

Breakdown of the numbers

Iowa State’s total fall enrollment of 31,105 includes 26,346 undergraduate, 4,116 graduate and 643 professional veterinary medicine students. Iowa State students come from all 99 Iowa counties, all 50 states and 110 countries.

“We are proud of the continued growth in enrollment,” said Katharine Johnson Suski, interim associate vice president for enrollment management and executive director of admissions and new student programs. “That growth reflects our commitment to serving the state with more students from Iowa high schools and community colleges choosing Iowa State.” 

Among first-year students, just over 20% are first-generation and nearly 22% are Pell eligible. Academically, Iowa State’s class of 2029 had an average ACT score of 25 and a high school GPA of 3.76.

Total enrollment includes 16,330 students from Iowa, 11,952 nonresident students, 2,823 international students and 18,925 students or nearly 61% enrolled in STEM fields. 

Enrollment by college (undergraduate and graduate)

Agriculture and Life Sciences: 4,284

Business: 5,401

Design: 2,172

Engineering: 8,628

Health and Human Sciences: 3,311

Liberal Arts and Sciences: 6,268

Veterinary Medicine (professional and graduate): 784 

Interdepartmental units and graduate undeclared: 30

Visiting scholars: 227

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