How to Apply to Biology at Iowa State University: Admission by Index Rather Than by Major, an Interdepartmental BS Open Through Two Colleges with Six Areas of Study, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Iowa State University (ISU) is a public research university in Ames, Iowa, and undergraduate biology is offered through the interdepartmental Biology Program. Students apply to the University and name the major they plan to pursue, but the University does not make admission decisions by major. This guide is based on the University’s and the Biology Program’s websites, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering and other majors are not covered here, and neither are life-science majors offered by other departments outside the Biology Program. Note that the University catalog (catalog.iastate.edu) was not read, so course descriptions and prerequisites should be checked there.

1. Degrees and options, and how admission works

• Degree and home: the requirements page says Iowa State offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology through its interdepartmental Biology Program; it requires 120 credits and is designed to be completed in four years. The academics page says the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB) jointly offer the major, and the requirements page says biology majors may enroll through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) or the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), each with its own general education requirements.
• Six areas of study: the program home and academics pages list Human Medicine & Pre-Med, Veterinary Medicine & Pre-Vet, Cellular and Molecular, Biodiversity and Evolution, Ecology and Conservation, and Teaching and Education. These are focuses within the one biology major (the program links a PDF for each, not read), not separate degrees; the Cellular and Molecular page suggests prioritising genetics (BIOL 3130 and lab) and molecular cell biology (BIOL 3140) and taking at least 9 advanced credits from its recommended list.
• Core: BIOL 1100 and 1110 (students entering from high school) or BIOL 1120 (transfer students), BIOL 2110 and 2120 Principles of Biology I and II (each with a lab), BIOL 3120 Ecology (with lab), BIOL 3130 Principles of Genetics (with lab), BIOL 3140 Principles of Molecular Cell Biology and BIOL 3150 Biological Evolution; the three 3000-level core courses may be taken in any order, and a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required in the core.
• Advanced biology: 21 credits, including at least 9 credits from Biology Program offerings (BIOL, EEOB, GDCB) and at least 2 advanced courses with a lab or field component; the page says more than 150 courses count, including field trip courses, teaching experiences, internships and research, and a 2.0 minimum GPA applies.
• Supporting mathematics, chemistry and physics: two semesters of calculus and/or statistics (LAS students may take calculus only, MATH 1650 and 1660, statistics only, STAT 1010 or 1040 plus STAT 3010, or calculus and statistics; CALS differs slightly), with math placement by the ALEKS exam. Chemistry is 12 credits: the one-semester sequence is CHEM 1630 with lab, CHEM 2310 with lab and BBMB 3160; the two-semester sequence is General Chemistry I and II (CHEM 1770, 1780), Organic Chemistry I and II (CHEM 3310, 3320) and Biochemistry I and II (BBMB 4040, 4050). Physics is one semester with a lab (5 credits, such as PHYS 1150), with some students taking a full year.
• General education: LAS requires college-level world language (1010/1020 or three or more years in high school), 12 credits of arts and humanities, 9 of social sciences and 45 credits at the 3000 level or above; CALS requires no world language and 3 credits each of arts and humanities, social sciences and ethics; see the website for details.
• Naming a major, when to declare, switching in: the apply page says you choose the major you plan to pursue but admission is by the RAI, not by major; whether the biology major has a grade requirement or cap after enrolling, and the conditions for switching into biology, are not stated on the pages read. Please ask the Biology Program advisors (biology@iastate.edu).
• Double majors and minors: the program page lists common double-major pairings with biology (animal science, criminal justice, environmental science, environmental studies, psychology, wildlife and fisheries conservation and ecology, world languages such as Spanish); a biology minor is also offered.
• Undergraduate research: the program says research with ISU faculty can count directly toward biology degree requirements, registered as BIOL 2990 (introductory) or BIOL 4990 (more senior or experienced students); students can contact the Experiential Learning Coordinator or their advisor; an undergraduate life science poster symposium is held each year (the fall 2026 one is on December 4 with proposals due November 13).
• Scale (the program’s own figures): the academics page says there are 200+ biology courses, about 50 biology faculty members and 138 biology degrees earned in 2022–2023.

2. Prerequisites, AP credit and course choices

• High school courses: see the minimum high school courses in Section 4; LAS additionally requires a third year of social studies and two years of a single world language. Biology-specific requirements for high school biology, chemistry or mathematics are not stated on the pages read.
• AP credit: the credit-by-exam page awards Biology 1000 (4 credits) for AP Biology 4–5 and Chemistry 1770 and 1780 (7 credits, with laboratory credit reviewed separately) for AP Chemistry 4–5. How these map to specific biology major courses (such as BIOL 2110) is not stated on the pages read; please confirm with the Biology Program advisors. The IB equivalency guide is a file hosted by a third party and was not read.
• Placement: mathematics placement uses ALEKS; chemistry placement is not stated on the pages read.
• Competitions: the admissions pages read do not say how competitions such as the biology olympiad are viewed.

4. Deadlines and application materials (per the University’s website)

• How and when admission works: the admissions overview says Iowa State uses rolling admissions: applications are evaluated when received, with no single deadline; fall applications for undergraduates open July 1 of the preceding year, and fall applicants are encouraged to apply in the fall of the preceding year. The page prints no calendar year; please check the dates for fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply: through the University’s own application or the Common App. The apply page says you choose the major you plan to pursue, but Iowa State does not make admission decisions by major; admission is based on the Regent Admission Index (RAI). The application fee for domestic applicants is not stated on the pages read; for international applicants it is $65 (Section 6).
• Admission criteria (first-year, US applicants): RAI = ACT composite × 3 + cumulative GPA × 30 + years of high school core courses × 5 (SAT or CLT converted to ACT). An RAI of at least 245 with the minimum high school courses is an automatic offer; below 245 with the courses may be considered through individual academic review. First-year applicants are test optional; without a self-reported score, admission is based on GPA and core courses.
• Minimum high school courses: 4 years of English; 3 years of mathematics (one year each of algebra, geometry and advanced algebra); 3 years of science (at least two with elements of biology, chemistry or physics); 2 years of social studies. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) additionally requires a third year of social studies and two years of a single world language. Which college hosts biology is covered in Section 1.
• Transcripts and recommendations: students may be admitted on self-reported transcript information, contingent on the final official transcript; weighted GPAs are accepted only under the University’s rules. The international page says no essays, recommendation letters or merit certificates are required. Whether biology has extra requirements is not published on the pages read.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (estimated 2026–27, undergraduate): the cost-of-attendance page lists by status: tuition $9,816 for Iowa residents and $29,864 for non-residents; fees $1,586; on-campus housing and food $11,162; books and supplies $800 (personal and transportation estimates are on the page). The University notes that some majors and upper-level years carry higher tuition; figures for fall 2027 entry are not published, so check when released.
• Aid and scholarships: the tuition page says more than 85 percent of students receive some form of financial aid. The first-year awards page says applicants are automatically considered for the “Fall 2027 automatic first-year student merit awards”, with amounts listed by home state on that page (check your state there); the Generations Award requires an application.
• Preference or guaranteed admission for state residents: not stated on the pages read; Iowa residents do pay clearly lower tuition, as above.
• AP / IB credit: the credit-by-exam page awards credit for AP scores (see Section 2); credit by exam is capped at 32 credits, prior-learning credit in total at 60 credits, and at least one year of residency is needed. The IB equivalency guide is a file hosted by a third party and was not read.

6. International applicants

• Who counts: anyone who is not a US citizen or green card holder. Admission is rolling; the page recommends applying at least six to eight weeks ahead and allows applying up to a year before the start date. It has a “priority deadlines” heading, but no dates appear in the text read; please check the website.
• Academic requirements: high school GPA equivalent to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; core courses of 4 years of English (or native language), 3 years of science (two with laboratory science), 3 years of mathematics including algebra and geometry and 2 years of social studies; SAT/ACT not required, but 1200+ on the SAT or 25+ composite on the ACT counts as meeting the 3.0 GPA requirement.
• English proficiency: any one of: TOEFL iBT 71 with 17 or above on Speaking and Writing (the page also gives 4.0 with a minimum band of 3.5 on the 6.0 scale starting 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0 with all subscores 5.5 or above, Duolingo 105, PTE 48, SAT EBRW 460, ACT English 19, IB 5 in any English course, AP 3 in English Language or 4 in English Literature, IGCSE D in First Language English or C in English as a second language. IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest are not accepted. Native speakers living in a country where English is a primary official language, US high school graduates, and those who completed the equivalent of English 1500 or 2500 with a B or higher at an accredited US college are considered to have met it.
• Documents: English test results; transcripts from all high schools or universities attended (scans accepted; official final documents required if admitted); a bank statement or sponsor letter showing a minimum balance of $52,000 for first-year expenses in most majors ($54,300 for Design majors and Animal Enterprise and Innovation; $56,300 for transfer students); a passport copy; certified English translations of records not in English. Application fee $65, non-refundable, no fee waivers; the instructions page lists China Union Pay among the accepted credit cards.
• Scholarships: the international merit scholarships page says first-year awards are limited and highly competitive, based on SAT/ACT scores and high school grades: Award of Achievement up to $40,000 in total ($5,000–$10,000 a year) and Award of Distinction up to $16,000 ($2,000–$4,000 a year), for up to 8 semesters; fall priority deadline Feb. 15 and final deadline May 1; spring Nov. 15 and Dec. 15; apply through OneApp. Renewal needs a 2.5 GPA and at least 12 credits a semester.
• Costs: the cost-of-attendance page lists international tuition of $31,962; the International Students and Scholars Office estimate for 2026–27 is tuition and fees $33,547 plus living expenses $17,332, a total of $50,879 (the “most majors” category; some majors are higher), including the required University health insurance.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the website does not say whether or how the gaokao is used; it is not published. The country-specific academic requirements sit in a file hosted by a third party and were not read. Contact admissions@iastate.edu.
• Agents: the international application page says Iowa State has formal agreements with a select group of educational agents in India, China, Brazil, Nigeria and Mongolia; to check whether an agent is contracted, email admissions@iastate.edu; the agent must use the student’s own unique email address.
• Payment: the instructions page says the application fee can be paid by credit card, with China Union Pay among the listed cards.
• Transcripts and school-leaving exam materials: the general requirements are in Section 6; requirements specific to the Chinese system are not stated on the pages read.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see Sections 5 and 6.
• Program scholarships: the Biology Program pages read do not list scholarships specifically for entering students; the first-year awards and international merit scholarships are in Sections 5 and 6.
• Outcomes (as printed): the academics page says the biology major prepares students for graduate study and professional schools such as human medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy or veterinary medicine; in the home page student profiles, one student’s next step is physician assistant school and another hopes to become a physician. The pages give no counts or percentages for graduates.

9. Transfer students

• Domestic transfers: the transfer requirements page says applicants need at least 24 semester credits of transferable coursework and a minimum transfer GPA of 2.25 (2.00 with an associate degree); some programs require a higher GPA, and higher standards may apply to non-residents, including international students. Those with fewer than 24 transferable credits also submit a high school transcript and ACT/SAT scores and meet first-year requirements. Career technical, developmental and military credits do not count toward the 24.
• International transfers: the international transfer page requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 (2.0 with an associate degree from a regionally accredited US institution) and the same documents as first-year applicants with proof of funds of $56,300. International transfer merit scholarships: Award of Achievement up to $20,000 and Award of Distinction up to $10,000, for up to 5 semesters, with a GPA equivalent to 3.0; fall priority deadline March 1 and final June 30, spring Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.
• Credit: the international transfer page says transfer credit evaluation has two stages: the Office of Admissions determines transferable credits, which you can see in your admissions account; after arrival, the college of your major decides which credits satisfy your program. How transferred credits fit the biology core and advanced requirements is not described in the pages read (the program has a separate transferring-credits page, which was not read); please confirm with the Biology Program advisors.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Rolling admission, opening July 1 of the preceding year; name a major but admission is not by major; RAI 245 with the required high school core courses is an automatic offer; test optional; the domestic application fee is not stated
• Biology can be entered through LAS or CALS; AP Biology 4–5 earns Biology 1000

International applicants (including those from China):

• High school record equivalent to 3.0; TOEFL 71, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105 or PTE 48, among others; bank statement of $52,000; $65 fee with no waivers; no essays or recommendations
• International merit scholarships: fall priority deadline Feb. 15, final May 1, via OneApp

After admission:

• Plan the biology core, chemistry (one- or two-semester sequence), mathematics/statistics and physics; choose among the six areas of study; for research, register under BIOL 2990/4990

Transfer students:

• At least 24 semester credits and a 2.25 transfer GPA (2.00 with an associate degree); international transfer students need $56,300 in funds; transfer students take BIOL 1120 in place of the first-year courses

Sources: Iowa State University, Undergraduate Biology Program; Biology academics; Biology major requirements; Undergraduate research; Cellular and molecular area; Double majors and minors; Apply; Application instructions; Admissions; First-year students; Credit by exam; First-year student awards; Transfer requirements; International first-year requirements; International application information; International transfer requirements; English proficiency; International merit scholarships; Tuition and fees; Undergraduate cost of attendance; International undergraduate expenses. The university catalog (catalog.iastate.edu) was not read, and the country-specific academic requirements and the IB/A-Level equivalency guides sit in files hosted by a third party and were not read either. Please check that any dates printed without a year apply to fall 2027 entry, and see the University’s website for the latest.