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The Admissions Partnership Program (APP) is a partnership between all Iowa community colleges and Iowa State University. APP is designed to provide an advantage to current and future students from those colleges who are planning to earn a bachelor's degree at Iowa State. Program participants plan for a successful transfer to Iowa State University through advising activities, social and cultural opportunities, and satisfying academic requirements.
An Iowa State admissions representative will be on your campus on a regular basis. When you have questions, please contact a transfer admissions counselor at 515 294-5836 or by email at app@iastate.edu.
- Students must be enrolled at or accepted to an Iowa community college taking coursework leading to transfer.
- Students who have attempted community college coursework must have a cumulative community college academic GPA of 2.25 or better (this includes PSEO courses, or college credit taken while in high school).
- Career technical, military, and developmental/remedial credit does not count towards your academic GPA.
- Students enrolled in the Intensive English Program are not eligible.
- Students who have taken courses at Iowa State prior to high school graduation or during the summer immediately following graduation from high school are eligible for APP.
- Students must be high school graduate or have a high school equivalent (GED)
- Current or former Iowa State University students including students enrolled in off-campus programs will need to contact app@iastate.edu to discuss eligibility.
In order to participate in APP students must have a 2.00 cumulative academic GPA. If your academic GPA is below a 2.00, please contact a transfer admissions counselor to discuss ways to raise your GPA to the 2.0 requirement. You may contact us at 515 294-5836 or by email at app@iastate.edu.
Career technical, developmental/remedial, or military credits do not count towards your academic GPA.
In most cases, no. Participants for whom concurrent enrollment is advisable may enroll in an Iowa State University course while attending community college under the terms of the current Cross Enrollment agreement.
- Enroll at a participating community college taking coursework leading to transfer.
- Following your admission to the community college, meet with a participating community college adviser/counselor to discuss whether APP is a good fit for you.
- Complete the APP application online.
- Have your transcripts sent to Iowa State from all institutions where you have previously attempted college level coursework, including coursework you may have taken while still enrolled in high school. Send transcripts to 100 Enrollment Services Center, Ames, IA 50011.
Students will not be fully admitted into APP until they meet admissions requirements. Students have to be enrolled at an Iowa community college to meet admissions requirements for APP.
Students who plan to enter an Iowa community college after high school graduation and would like to participate in APP may apply before registering at the community college. However, they will not be fully admitted until they have registered for community college courses and have completed high school.
- Mentoring and guidance from both institutions from the time a student is accepted into the APP. A student in the APP will have an academic adviser/counselor at his or her community college and an academic adviser Iowa State University.
- Opportunities to access services and resources at Iowa State University while still enrolled at their community college. Participants will have an opportunity to access career exploration and other resources, and to attend athletic and cultural events at student prices.
- Opportunities to participate in early orientation and registration prior to transfer.
- Guaranteed acceptance into a bachelor's degree program at Iowa State University as long as all college and program requirements are met at the time of transfer.
APP participants are asked to complete the Iowa State University Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships no later than one semester prior to their intended entry (excluding summer). An application fee of $40 is required at the time the application is completed. At that time, students will be admitted to Iowa State University provided requirements for admission are met.
APP participants are encouraged to complete the Iowa State University Transfer Application for Undergraduate Admission as early as a year before they plan to transfer.
No. Students participating in APP are held to the same admissions standards as other students seeking admission.
Participants must meet Iowa State admissions requirements. For more information visit the Transfer Admission Requirements page. To be admitted to a degree program, students must also meet program requirements. Students who choose to transfer to Iowa State University before completing 24 hours of transferable semester credits must have earned a 2.25 and must meet Iowa State University's Freshman Admission Requirements.
Participants must meet Iowa State admissions requirements. For more information visit the Transfer Admission Requirements page. To be admitted to a degree program, students must also meet program requirements. Students who choose to transfer to Iowa State University before completing 24 hours of transferable semester credits must have earned a 2.25 and must meet Iowa State University's Freshman Admission Requirements.
A student may choose to transfer to Iowa State University at any time. The student must meet the admissions requirements in place at the time of transfer. Students with fewer than 24 transferable semester credit hours must meet freshmen admissions requirements and must have earned a 2.25 in all college coursework attempted.
The following majors within the College of Design require completion of the one-year pre-professional Design Core Program: architecture, graphic design, industrial design, integrated studio arts, interior design, and landscape architecture. Students interested in these majors are encouraged to contact Jennifer Anderson at janders@iastate.edu or call 515 294-0816 to learn more about the Design Core Program and how it impacts the Admission Partnership Program.
Yes. Students who are not sure what they want to study can receive guidance from and take advantage of career exploration opportunities at both institutions. Open option students will work with an adviser in Iowa State's College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Students participating in APP will be provided with a plan of study leading to a bachelor's degree. Students who change their major, attend part-time, join APP late in their community college experience, or do not enroll in coursework as advised may extend their time to graduation.
Applicants will receive written notification of their acceptance as soon as Iowa State has processed application materials and made a decision regarding eligibility for APP.
Students can find an academic adviser or counselor by visiting their community college's website or through our APP Iowa Community College Contact List.
Not necessarily. Participation in the Admissions Partnership Program does not qualify you for residency at Iowa State University. The guidelines for classifying students as residents or nonresidents differ based on the educational institution. Residency requirements at the community college are not the same as residency requirements at the Iowa Regents Universities. Thus a student may be classified as a resident at a community college, yet still not meet the residency requirements at Iowa State University.
For information regarding residency classification at Iowa State University, visit the Registrar's website or contact the Iowa State University Office of the Registrar, at 515 294-1840.
Students can pay their University bill (U-Bill) by sending payment to the Treasurer's Office, 1220 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50011 or by paying online through AccessPlus.
To gain access to AccessPlus, students may use the information provided to them in their APP offer letter. The APP offer letter will include the student's Iowa State ID number and a temporary password necessary to log into AccessPlus.
No. As an Admissions Partnership Program student you are not eligible for financial aid at Iowa State University. You are only eligible for financial aid through your community college.
You will become eligible for financial aid consideration at Iowa State when you transfer to Iowa State University.