First-Year Admission Requirements

See our Full Standardized Test and Admissions Process for Students Applying for Fall 2026.

Regent Admission Index

The Regent Admission Index is used for admission to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and one of the criteria used for admission to the College of Engineering, College of Public Health, and College of Education.

How to Calculate Your RAI

3 x ACT composite score or SAT Equivalent
+
30 x Cumulative GPA

(weighted or unweighted)
+
5 x Number of years of high school courses completed in the core subject areas

Your RAI Score

Which Core Courses Count in the RAI?

Any college-prep course in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and world language can be used in calculating a student’s RAI score. To be considered for admission, students must have taken (or plan to take) at least 15 college-prep courses (full-year) including the following:

4 years of English
3 years of mathematics, including Algebra I, Algebra II, and geometry (Engineering requires a 4th year of mathematics)
3 years of social studies (Engineering requires only 2 years)
2 years of the same world language
3 years of science, including courses in physical science, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics.

All other courses in these areas (above and beyond those required for admission), can be used in calculating the RAI. High school counselors can help students and parents determine which courses qualify as “college-prep” or students can call the Office of Admissions. Even with an admissible RAI score, any missing required core courses will result in an individual review of your application, which could lead to a denial of admission.

If a GPA is not on a 4-point grading scale, it is converted.

ONLINE RAI CALCULATOR

Use the Iowa Board of Regents RAI calculator to estimate your unofficial score.

CALCULATE YOUR SCORE

Minimum High School Course Requirements

**Minimum High School Course Requirements for First-Year Applicants**
	If applying to Liberal Arts & sciences, Business, Public Health, or Education	If applying to Engineering	If applying to Nursing DIRECT ADMISSION Program
English/ Language Arts	4 years	4 years	4 years
World Languages	2 years in a single language*	2 years in a single language*	Minimum second-level proficiency in one world language*
Natural Science	3 years, including courses in physical science, biology, chemistry, environmental science, or physics	3 years; highly recommended to have one year of physics and one year of chemistry	3 years, including one year each of biology, chemistry and physics
Social Studies	3 years	2 years	3 years
Algebra	2 years	2 years	2 years
Geometry	1 year	1 year	1 year
Higher Mathematics	—	1 year, highly recommended to have 1 year of pre-calculus	—

*Liberal Arts and Sciences and Education students can choose several pathways to fulfill the World Languages requirement for graduation: 4th level (4 years) in a single language, 3rd level (3 years) in a single language plus an approved world language and cultural exploration course, or 2nd level (2 years) of 2 languages. Details at clas.uiowa.edu/wlpath

Business students must complete four years in one language or two years each in two languages. Engineering students must take two years in a single language. Students who have taken the requisite years in high school have fulfilled these requirements. Nursing students must complete four years (fourth level proficiency) of the same world language, or two years (second level proficiency) in two different world languages, or two years of the same world language plus additional required coursework.

Course requirements for international applicants from secondary/high schools outside of the U.S. are not strictly counted. It is understood that worldwide curriculums vary widely, so evaluators of non-U.S. transcripts will consider the educational system of each applicant and review holistically.

College-Specific Admission Requirements

First-year students at Iowa enroll in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, Public Health, or Education. See below for specific requirements for these and other UI colleges that admit undergraduates.