75%
Graduation Rate
19%
Transfer-out Rate
88%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Iowa State University, the graduation rate is 75 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 88 %, and the transfer-out rate is 19 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 72.57% (public Research University with very high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 4,447 students out of 5,904 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Iowa State University.
By gender, 2,423 male and 2,024 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 5,904 | 4,447 | 75.32% |
|---|
| Men | 3,371 | 2,423 | 71.88% |
|---|
| Women | 2,533 | 2,024 | 79.91% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Iowa State University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 75.00%
- Asian: 73.25%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 60.71%
- Hispanic: 67.47%
- White: 77.01%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 100.00%
- Two or More Race: 65.88%
- Unknown: 74.67%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 75.00%(3/4) |
75.00%(3/4) |
- |
|---|
| Asian | 73.25%(178/243) |
69.23%(108/156) |
80.46%(70/87) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 60.71%(85/140) |
56.52%(39/69) |
64.79%(46/71) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 67.47%(251/372) |
61.96%(114/184) |
72.87%(137/188) |
|---|
| White | 77.01%(3,588/4,659) |
73.74%(1,960/2,658) |
81.36%(1,628/2,001) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 100.00%(2/2) |
100.00%(1/1) |
100.00%(1/1) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 65.88%(112/170) |
60.87%(56/92) |
71.79%(56/78) |
|---|
| Unknown | 74.67%(112/150) |
71.26%(62/87) |
79.37%(50/63) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At ISU, the transfer-out rate is 18.95%. Its transfer-out rate is much higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 13.49%.
ISU's retention rate is 88% for full-time students and 82 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 87.20%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Iowa State University, 116 of 164 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 70.73%.