If you're on campus Friday, April 4, keep an eye out to lend directional help. More than 2,000 visitors are expected for the fourth spring Admitted Student Day (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). The event is for prospective students with an admission offer to Iowa State, some of whom have accepted their offer. Many of them are visiting campus with family members for the first time -- or again -- to decide if Iowa State will be their school.
Katharine Johnson Suski, assistant vice president of enrollment management and executive director of admissions and new student programs, said fewer are undecided this spring than a year ago.
"We are seeing more students accept their offers earlier this year because financial aid packages have already gone out to first-year students. That was not the case a year ago," Suski said. "We don't know if that will continue, but we are ahead and looking good for the fall 2025 class."
She said comparing the size of the incoming first-year class to a year ago is difficult because of the delay caused by problems with the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form last year. But she described applications, offers and acceptance to the university as "strong."
The day gives students and families the chance to solidify their choice before the May 1 national college decision day.
"We really encourage students to make their decision on or before May 1 because we are growing," Suski said. "[Making the decision this month] allows them to manage all of their enrollment steps and ensures the best chance at getting their top choices."
Smoother path for FAFSA filers
Director of student financial aid Chad Olson concurred that student FAFSA submissions and the U.S. Department of Education's processing of them has gone much smoother this year. The FAFSA form became available several days before the announced Dec. 1 date, and within five business days, his office was receiving student data, he said. Iowa State's first financial aid offers -- a large batch of 16,000 letters -- left campus March 11, well ahead of last spring's April 26 first mailing of the same size. Including about 1,000 financial aid offers to transfer students this week, his team has processed and mailed about 19,000 offers. He said his team will continue to prepare financial aid offers as applications come in.
As anticipated, Olson said more ISU students are eligible for the need-based, federal Pell grant under the revised FAFSA formula. In fall 2023 -- the final academic year with the old FAFSA -- 4,892 (19.5%) Iowa State undergraduates were supported by a Pell grant. In fall 2024, 6,039 (23.6%) undergraduates' financial aid package included a Pell grant.
By law, the FAFSA form for the 2026-27 year will be live this fall by Oct. 1, a return to the timeline prior to the FAFSA revision project in 2023.
No cliff here
April 4: Admitted Student Day
9 a.m., Welcome, Stephens Auditorium
9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Signing day table, ISU Book Store
9:30-11 a.m., College open houses and resource fairs, various locations
11 a.m.-3 p.m., 45-minute breakout sessions (4), various locations
3-4:30 p.m., Checkout, Memorial Union
Strong enrollment numbers this fall would continue a trend in which Iowa State has not seen the "enrollment cliff" that has impacted some neighboring states. Suski said planning and targeted efforts have kept Iowa State appealing to prospective students.
"Iowa's high school graduating classes are staying pretty steady compared to other states, and we took very specific actions to insure against any demographic drops in some markets," Suski said. "Beginning in 2019, we began talking about how to prepare for any shifts, and we are seeing the results."
Important day
Suski said Admitted Student Day provides students and families an opportunity to learn about and make connections at Iowa State in a low-stress environment. Campus visits coordinator Brylee Groskreutz works with about a thousand faculty, staff and student volunteers to provide a personal experience.
The day begins with a welcome session and a set of college open houses to help visitors connect with college representatives and student support services. After lunch, four 45-minute blocks let students visit their areas of interest, from a college to a department, research lab or even a specific faculty member. Suski said the colleges developed overview sessions of the different majors in their colleges specifically for students still deciding on a major. She said Admitted Student Day "really is all about the experience" and less transactional than campus visits at other times of the year.
"It seems to fit the needs of most students, whatever those needs might be," she added.
At a signing day table in the ISU Book Store (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), admitted students may sign their non-binding "certificate of intent" to enroll at Iowa State and share the experience on social media.
