Admissions FAQ
MSE Graduate admission requirements are found on the Graduate College’s website.
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding admission to the graduate program.
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Q. Do I need to take the GRE test for admission?
A. Starting with Fall 2025 entry, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission into the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs, with the following exceptions.
- Applicant has completed a B.S. (or higher) degree from any ISU Engineering program or any ISU program in the physical, biological, or computational sciences.
- Applicant has completed a B.S. degree from any degree program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
- Applicant has completed a B.S. degree in Engineering or any of the physical, biological, or computational sciences from any U.S. institution, with a GPA of 3.2.
- Applicant has completed an M.S. (or higher) degree in Engineering or any of the physical, biological, or computational sciences from any U.S. institution.
- Applicant has been granted a GRE waiver from the MSE Department at ISU. (Waivers request forms are to be submitted with the application as a supplemental document.) Waiver decisions will be based on various qualifications, including but not limited to:
- Employment experience – e.g., 2+ years (full time) technical work experience
- Research experience – e.g., 2+ years (full time) academic research with corresponding publication record)
- Advanced degree in Engineering or Science from a non-U.S. institution
- Academic record (e.g., 3+ GPA in math and science)
We will do our best to respond to you by email with a decision within 3 weeks. Please be planful in preparing your request well prior to the funding priority dates. We will accept both waiver requests and applications after the funding priority deadline.
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Q. What score do I need on the GRE test to be admitted?
A. There is not a minimum requirement for the GRE score.
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Q. What are your admission requirements?
A. Our admission requirements can be found here.
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Q. What is the application deadline for admission?
A. Most new graduate students are admitted in the Fall semester. To receive primary consideration for graduate assistantships and timely review of your application, applications for fall entry should be completed by January 31. Applications for Spring entry should be completed by September 1.
If you require a visa to study in the U.S., please do not initiate an application within 3 months of when classes begin; it is impractical to complete both the admission review process and the visa application process within such a short timeframe.
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Q. Is there a fee to apply?
A. The application fee is required for all applications. Deferrals or waivers of the application fee for Fall 2025 and beyond are not available. Read more about the application processing fee.
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Q. May I request a waiver or deferral of the application fee?
A. U.S. military veterans will have their application fee deferred until they enroll. Otherwise, Materials Science & Engineering does not provide waivers or deferrals of the application fee. Read more about the application processing fee.
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Q. I submitted my application. When will I know if I am accepted?
A. You will receive a letter from the department when your application has completed the review process. If you have not received the letter, then your application is still under review. This process can take time. Any questions related to the status of your application should be directed to the graduate program coordinator.
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Q. What is the acceptance rate for graduate students applying to the MSE program?
A. Approximately 200 students apply to the MSE graduate program for Fall entry each year. The acceptance rate is 16%.
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Q. What is required for the statement of purpose?
A. The statement of purpose needs to answer the following four questions (150 word limit on each question):
- Why do you wish to pursue graduate studies in Materials Science and Engineering at ISU?
- What are your career goals after completing your degree?
- How have your background, education, and/or experiences prepared you for graduate study?
- What are your research interests for a thesis or dissertation (for MS and PhD applicants only)?
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Q. What funding is available to support graduate study?
A.Please read about financing graduate study on the Graduate College website.
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Q. My undergraduate degree is not in materials engineering. Will I have to take prerequisite courses?
A. This will depend on your major and courses you have taken. If you have an engineering degree, you will not need additional courses. Other degrees may require additional coursework.
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Q. I have been admitted. When do I register for courses?
A. The MSE Graduate Program Coordinator will email you with onboarding instructions, including course registration. Typically, we ask our first semester students to register for classes in the month prior to the start of the semester. Learn more about ISU’s academic calendar.
If you require a visa to study in the U.S., please do not register for courses until you arrive on campus.
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Q. I am an international student and received my letter of acceptance. When will I receive the I-20 for for my visa?
A. The Office of Admissions will email the Form I-20 to you. This process could take 1-2 months and cannot be expedited. Please monitor the Admissions application portal for next steps or action items.
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Q. How do students accepted into the MSE graduate program get assigned to a major professor?
A. Some graduate students will be contacted directly by a faculty member from the MSE department prior to being accepted if he/she has reviewed the application and decides to extend an offer.
Other students will be initially accepted under department support and will be expected to find a major professor within two semesters of beginning the program at ISU. Check out the list of Faculty by Research Areas to find potential faculty members to contact and then either visit, call, or email to check if they have any available positions in their research groups.
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Q. What are my housing options in Ames?
A. For on-campus housing, visit the Department of Residence. For off-campus housing, students commonly use websites such as zillow or apartments.com. Rent Smart Ames is an informational resource for the renting process.
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