Ph.D. Application Requirements

Contact Us

Email the computer science graduate admissions team at csadmissions@iastate.edu for individual support as you navigate the application process.

Sign up for a Virtual Visit - these sessions are offered for prospective doctoral students on the last Wednesday of every month at 10:00 AM U.S. Central Time. These small group sessions include information about Iowa State University and the Department of Computer Science, academic requirements, career placement, assistantships and internships, and the application process. 

Sign up for a virtual visit


Application Process

Access the online application system.

Step 1 – create your account and provide your personal details (e.g., name, contact information, and address).

Step 2 – select your academic area of interest (e.g., PhD Computer Science) and enter your academic history, exam test scores, and recommender information. Submit your application. No documents are uploaded with the initial application submission.

  • Research Interests and Specific Faculty: When specifying your Academic Area of interest, please list your research interest and the names of at least three faculty who you are interested in working with (check here for faculty names by research area). This will help us match you with a major professor. Due to high demand for AI and ML, you will have more opportunities for admission if you list other areas.
  • Delayed Payment of PhD Application Fee: The PhD application fee ($65 US Domestic; $100 International) for admitted students will be placed on the first university bill (U-Bill) after enrolling in classes. All other PhD applicants (those who are not admitted and those who do not accept the admission offer) are not required to pay an application fee.

Step 3 – return to your application to upload the required documents. When you return to your account, click on the “View my Application(s)” button to access the action items for your application. Clicking on the “Manage” button next to each action item will open a menu where you can provide the required information. Admissions will send you an email if there is an issue with any documentation. The action item status will also change to “Returned.” Please contact us if you have any questions about the required documentation. We will gladly assist you.

Step 4 – The Computer Science Graduate Admissions Committee will review applications and recommend applicants for admission, waitlist, or denial. Applicants recommended for admission will begin the process of selecting a major professor. A major professor match must be made before an admission offer can be made. Additional action item tasks (e.g., provide official English language proficiency test scores) will be added to the application portal to complete the admissions process.

Instructions for managing your application documents and recommenders.

Required Documents:

  1. Current Resume/CV
  2. Unofficial transcripts from ALL universities/colleges attended – Please include the original language and an English translation. Consolidated transcripts are allowed if they show all tests and exams, including retakes. Please include the grading scale for your university/college. World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) evaluations of international transcripts are accepted starting with Fall 2024 applications. Please also upload your degree statement with your transcripts if you have graduated.
  3. Unofficial degree statement(s) – This isn’t required if your degree is still in progress. Please include a copy of your degree statement with your transcripts.
  4. (3) Letters of Recommendation (LOR) – the application system will automatically send a recommendation request to the email address you provide for each recommender. Please reach out to csadmissions@iastate.edu with any issues related to the letters of recommendation.
  5. Statement of Purpose (SOP) – guidance for writing the SOP
  6. GRE scores - Information about the GRE requirement, including GRE waiver citeria.
    1. Type your GRE scores into the online application system.
    2. Upload a PDF copy of your GRE test taker report, available to you in your ETS account.
    3. If selected for admission, send your official GRE scores to Iowa State University. Our institution code is 6306.

Additional required documents for international applicants:

  1. English proficiency test results - accepted tests and minimum requirements.
    1. Type your scores into the online application system.
    2. Upload a PDF copy of your test taker report.
    3. If selected for admission, send your official scores to Iowa State University.
  2. Passport/immigration card - you can wait to upload this until you receive the admission decision.
  3. Financial Support Documents - you can wait to upload this until you receive the admission decision. PhD applicants are not required to submit financial documentation unless traveling with dependents. If traveling with dependents, the amount to show can be found here. This form may be helpful in planning your financial documents.

Successful PhD Application Profile

In general, successful Ph.D. applicants for Spring 2024 had a combine GRE score of 310 or higher. They scored within the 90th percentile (164) on the quantitative portion of the GRE, and they also did fairly well on the verbal portion of the exam, although not as high. Additionally, they had a USA GPA comparable to an "A" average, or 3.67 out of a possible 4.00, and they ranked in the top quartile (25%) of their graduating class. Typically, they received "A" and "B+" USA equivalent grades in their core COMS and MATH studies. They also had prior COMS research experience and a significant background in computer science or data science, such as Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Programming experience, Software Engineering, AI, Systems or Networking. In many cases, they had papers published in high quality journals.

The Admissions Committee typically looks for applicants with preparatory coursework and/or professional experience in these five areas:

  1. Programming (e.g., COMS 2270/2280 Java Programming)
  2. Algorithms (e.g., COMS 3110 Algorithm Design and Analysis)
  3. Math/theory for CS (e.g., COMS 2300 Discrete Mathematics and COMS 3310 Computer Theory)
  4. Databases and Operating Systems (e.g., COMS 3630 Intro to DB Mgmt Systems and COMS 3520 Intro to OS)
  5. Statistics (e.g., STAT 2010)

Descriptions for the above courses can be found on the university catalog website. Students missing some of the pre-requisites may be admitted with the requirement to take COMS 5010X and/or 5040X in their first semester.


Application Deadlines

Fall 2025 Doctoral Application Deadlines

We offer Fall entry only; there is no standard Spring or Summer entry. International applicants requiring a new visa and Ph.D. applicants interested in competitive scholarships/grants are encouraged to apply earlier.

  • Ph.D. applications will open on September 1, 2024 and close on January 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted (i.e., started) during this time.
  • Ph.D. applicants have until January 15, 2025, to complete their applications (e.g., submit transcripts, SOPs, and LORs).
  • Ph.D. admission decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis starting February 15, 2025.
  • Waitlisted applicants will receive a final decision by March 10, 2025.
  • Ph.D. funding offers are the same for anytime of admission.

Spring 2026 Doctoral Application Deadlines

We only offer spring admission to current ISU students (undergrad or graduate program transfers). Please talk with Nicole Lewis (nlewis1@iastate.edu) before applying.

Fall 2026 Doctoral Application Deadlines

We offer Fall entry only; there is no standard Spring or Summer entry. International applicants requiring a new visa and Ph.D. applicants interested in competitive scholarships/grants are encouraged to apply earlier.

  • Ph.D. applications will open on September 1, 2025 and close on December 15, 2025. Applications must be submitted (i.e., started) during this time.
  • Ph.D. applicants have until January 15, 2026, to complete their applications (e.g., submit transcripts, SOPs, and LORs).
  • Ph.D. admission decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis starting February 15, 2026.
  • Waitlisted applicants will receive a final decision by March 10, 2026.
  • Ph.D. funding offers are the same for anytime of admission.

Financial Support

Ph.D. applicants selected for admission will receive a two academic year (fall and spring) teaching assistantship (TA). This includes a monthly stipend, 100% tuition scholarship, and free health insurance. Our Ph.D. students are usually funded by their major professors as research assistants (RA) during years 3, 4 and 5 and during the summers. Summer internships are highly available if the student's major professor does not have RA funding available. RA funding is a discussion that Ph.D. students can have with major professors once admitted; RA funding can be obtained prior to starting the first year.