ARC 0163D

ARC 0163D

REGENTS BOARD[681]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to admission rules
and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The Board of Regents hereby proposes to rescind Chapter 1, “Admission Rules Common to the Three State Universities,” Iowa Administrative Code, and to adopt a new Chapter 1 with the same title.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 262.9(3), 262.9(17) and 262.92.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 262.

Purpose and Summary

    Iowa Code chapter 262 requires the Board to adopt rules for admission to and for the Regent universities and for the classification of students enrolled for tuition and fee purposes. Iowa Code section 262.92 requires the Board to adopt rules to establish program guidelines for the college-bound program. Proposed Chapter 1 sets forth admission requirements for undergraduate students at the Regent universities and requirements for classification of residents and nonresidents for admission, tuition and fee purposes.

Regulatory Analysis

    A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on October 15, 2025. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   November 4, 2025

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to rule 681—19.18(17A).

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 30, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

    Public hearings at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

    Persons who wish to make oral comments at a public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

    Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Board and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Rescind 681—Chapter 1 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 1

ADMISSION RULES COMMON TO THE THREE STATE UNIVERSITIES

681—1.1(262) Admission of undergraduate students directly from high school. Students desiring admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, or the University of Northern Iowa must meet the requirements in this rule and also any special requirements for the curriculum, school, or college of their choice.

    1.1(1) Application. Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with the appropriate application fee and have their secondary school provide a transcript of their academic record, including credits and grades, rank in class (when available), and certification of graduation. Applicants may also submit standardized test scores. Applicants whose primary language is not English must also meet the English language proficiency requirement specified by each university. Applicants may be required to submit additional information or data to support their applications.

    1.1(2) Admission criteria.

    a.  A regent admission index (RAI) will be calculated for freshman applicants who submit all components used in the equation below. For purposes of calculating the RAI, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores or other approved standardized tests will be converted to ACT composite equivalents), high school GPA is expressed on a four-point scale, and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.

    b.  Freshman applicants from Iowa high schools who have an RAI that meets a minimum set by the state board of regents and who meet the minimum requirements of the regent universities will qualify for automatic admission. Freshman applicants who have an RAI below the minimum set by the state board of regents or who do not have all components used in the RAI may also be admitted to a regent university; however, each regent university will review these applications on an individual basis.

    1.1(3) Graduates of approved high schools in other states may be held to higher academic standards but must meet at least the same requirements as graduates of Iowa high schools.

    1.1(4) Applicants who are graduates of nonapproved high schools will be considered for admission in a manner similar to applicants from approved high schools, but additional emphasis will be given to scores obtained on standardized examinations.

    1.1(5) Applicants who are not high school graduates, but whose classes have graduated, may be considered for admission. These applicants will be required to submit all academic data to the extent that it exists and achieve scores on standardized examinations that will demonstrate that they are adequately prepared for academic study.

    1.1(6) Early admission.

    a.  Students with superior academic records may be admitted, on an individual basis, for part-time university study while enrolled in high school or during the summers prior to high school graduation.

    b.  In rare situations, exceptional students may be admitted as full-time students to a regent university before completing high school. Early admission to a regent university is provided to serve persons whose academic achievement and personal and intellectual maturity clearly suggest readiness for collegiate-level study. Each university will specify requirements and conditions for early admission.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

681—1.2(262) Admission of undergraduate students by transfer from other colleges. Students desiring admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, or the University of Northern Iowa must meet the requirements in this rule and also any special requirements for the curriculum, school, or college of their choice.

Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with the appropriate application fee, and request that each college they have attended send an official transcript of record to the admissions office. High school academic records and standardized test results may also be required. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or equivalent English proficiency examination as determined by each institution, is required of foreign students whose first language is not English.

    1.2(1) Transfer applicants who have earned a minimum of 24 semester hours of graded credit from colleges or universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, attended another college or university after graduating from high school, and achieved for all college work previously attempted the grade point required by each university for specific programs will be admitted. Higher academic standards may be required of students who are not residents of Iowa.

Applicants who have not maintained the grade point required by each university for specific programs or who are under academic suspension from the last college attended may, after a review of their academic and test records and at the discretion of the admissions officers:

    a.  Be admitted unconditionally,

    b.  Be admitted conditionally,

    c.  Be denied admission.

    1.2(2) Admission of students with fewer than 24 semester hours of college credit will be based on high school academic records in addition to review of the college record.

    1.2(3) Transfer applicants under disciplinary suspension will not be considered for admission until information concerning the reason for the suspension has been received from the college assigning the suspension. Applicants granted admission under these circumstances will be admitted on probation.

    1.2(4) Transfer applicants from colleges and universities not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered for admission on an individual basis taking into account all available academic information.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

681—1.3(262) Transfer credit practices. The acceptance and use of transfer credit is subject to limitations in accordance with the educational policies operative at each university.

    1.3(1) Students from colleges and universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Credit earned at colleges and universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is acceptable for transfer except that credit in courses determined by the receiving university to be of a remedial, vocational, or technical nature or credit in courses or programs in which the institution granting the credit is not directly involved may not be accepted or may be accepted to a limited extent.

Of the coursework earned at a two-year college, students may apply up to one-half but no more than 65 hours of the credits required for a bachelor’s degree toward that degree at a regent university except as otherwise agreed to in an articulation agreement.

    1.3(2) Students from colleges and universities that have candidate status. Credit earned at colleges and universities that have become candidates for accreditation by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is acceptable for transfer in a manner similar to that from colleges and universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education if the credit is applicable to the bachelor’s degree at the receiving university.

Credit earned at the junior and senior classification from an accredited two-year college that has received approval by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for change to a four-year college may be accepted by a regent university.

    1.3(3) Students from colleges and universities not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. When students are admitted from colleges and universities not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, they may validate portions or all of their transfer credit. Each university will specify the amount of the transfer credit and the terms of the validation process at the time of admission.

    1.3(4) Students from colleges and universities outside the U.S. Transfer credit from educational institutions outside the U.S. may be granted after a determination of the type of institution involved and after an evaluation of the content, level, and comparability of the study to courses and programs at the receiving university. Credit may be granted in specific courses but is frequently assigned to general areas of study.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

681—1.4(262) Classification of residents and nonresidents for admission, tuition, and fee purposes.

    1.4(1) General.

    a.  A person enrolling at one of the three state universities shall be classified as a resident or nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes by the registrar or someone designated by the registrar. The decision shall be based upon information furnished by the student and other relevant information.

    b.  In determining resident or nonresident classification, the issue is essentially one of why the person is in the state of Iowa. If the person is in the state primarily for educational purposes, that person will be considered a nonresident. An individual could qualify as a resident of Iowa for such purposes as voting, holding an Iowa driver’s license, or Iowa community college residency, and not meet the residency requirements as established by the state board of regents for admission, tuition, and fee purposes.

    c.  The registrar, or designated person, is authorized to require evidence deemed necessary to determine why a student is in Iowa. The burden of establishing that a student is in Iowa for other than educational purposes is upon the student.

    d.  Applications for resident classification for a given semester or session are due no later than the fifteenth class day of that semester or session. Applications received after the fifteenth class day of that semester or session will be considered for the next semester or session. Appeals of any nonresident classification decision resulting from applications for resident classifications are due within ten business days of the decision. Change of classification from nonresident to resident will not be made retroactive beyond the term in which application for resident classification is made.

    e.  A student who gives incorrect or misleading information to evade payment of nonresident fees shall be subject to disciplinary action and must also pay the nonresident fees for each term previously attended.

    f.  Review committee. These regulations shall be administered by the registrar or someone designated by the registrar. The decision of the registrar or designated person may be appealed to a university review committee. The decision of the review committee may be appealed to the state board of regents.

    1.4(2) Guidelines.

    a.  The following general guidelines are used in determining the resident classification of a student for admission, tuition, and fee purposes:

    (1)  A financially dependent student whose parents move from Iowa after the student is enrolled remains a resident provided the student maintains continuous enrollment. A financially dependent student whose parents move from Iowa during the senior year of high school will be considered a resident provided the student has not established domicile in another state.

    (2)  In deciding why a person is in the state of Iowa, the person’s domicile will be considered. A person’s domicile is presumed to be that of the parent(s) or legal guardian unless the person is independent and establishes a separate domicile. A person who comes to Iowa from another state and enrolls in any institution of postsecondary education for a full program or substantially a full program shall be presumed to have come to Iowa primarily for educational reasons rather than to establish a domicile in Iowa.

    (3)  A student who was a former resident of Iowa may continue to be considered a resident provided absence from the state was for a period of less than 12 months and provided domicile is reestablished.

A person or the dependent of a person whose domicile is established in Iowa, who has been classified as a resident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes, may continue to be classified as a resident so long as domicile is maintained, even though circumstances may require extended absence of the person from the state. It is required that a person who claims Iowa domicile while living in another state or country will provide proof of the continual Iowa domicile.

    (4)  A student who moves to Iowa may be eligible for resident classification at the next registration following 12 consecutive months in the state provided the student is not enrolled as more than a half-time student (six credits for an undergraduate or professional student, five credits for a graduate student) in any academic year term at any postsecondary institution, is not enrolled for more than four credits in a summer or winter term at any postsecondary institution for any classification, and provides sufficient evidence of the establishment of an Iowa domicile.

    (5)  A student who has been a continuous student and whose parents move to Iowa may become a resident at the beginning of the next term provided the student is dependent upon the parents for a majority of financial assistance.

    (6)  A person who has been certified as a refugee or granted asylum by the appropriate agency of the United States who enrolls as a student at a university governed by the state board of regents may be accorded immediate resident status for admission, tuition, and fee purposes when the person:

    1.  Comes directly to the state of Iowa from a refugee facility or port of debarkation, or

    2.  Comes to the state of Iowa within a reasonable time and has not established domicile in another state.

Any refugee or individual granted asylum not meeting these standards will be presumed to be a nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes and thus subject to the usual method of establishment of Iowa residency.

    (7)  An individual who has immigrant status establishes Iowa residency in the same manner as a United States citizen.

    (8)  At the regent universities, American Indians who have origins in any of the original people of North America and who maintain a cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition with one or more of the tribes or nations connected historically with the present state of Iowa, including the Chickasaw, Iowa, Kickapoo, Menominee, Miami, Missouri, Ojibwa (Chippewa), Omaha, Oneida (Narragansett), Otoe (Otto), Ottawa (Odawa), Potawatomi, Sac and Fox (Sauk, Meskwaki), Sioux, and Winnebago (HoCak, Ho Chunk), will be assessed Iowa resident tuition and fees.

    (9)  Individuals who have received a homeless youth determination may be classified as residents for tuition and fee purposes.

    b.  Additional guidelines are used in determining the resident classification of a veteran, a qualified military person, or other qualified individuals for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees:

    (1)  A person who is stationed on active duty at the Rock Island arsenal as a result of military orders, or the child or spouse or domestic partner of such person, is entitled to resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees. The child or spouse or domestic partner may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the university.

    (2)  Iowa National Guard and U.S. Armed Services reserve component service members assigned to a unit physically located in Iowa who have completed their initial entry training requirements or have served for one year are eligible for resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees.

    (3)  Iowa National Guard and U.S. Armed Services reserve component service members attached for a duration of greater than one year to a unit physically located in Iowa are eligible for resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees upon proof that the attachment requires moving to a permanent residence within the state of Iowa.

    (4)  Honorably discharged veterans who have served an aggregate of 90 days or more on Title 10 orders, other than for training, are eligible for resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees. All other discharges will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

    (5)  Retired members of the Iowa National Guard who are not Iowa residents are eligible for resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees.

    (6)  Active duty, Title 10, service members and their dependents, including domestic partner, are eligible for resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees.

    (7)  The rules for classification of veterans and qualified individuals shall be in full compliance with all federal laws, including Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act). The qualified individual may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the university.

    (8)  A person who is moved into the state as the result of military or civil orders from the government for other than educational purposes, or the child or spouse or domestic partner of such a person, is entitled to resident status. The child or spouse or domestic partner may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the university. Legislation, effective July 1, 1977, requires that military personnel who claim residency in Iowa (home of record) will be required to file Iowa resident income tax returns.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

681—1.5(262) College-bound program.

    1.5(1) Definitions.

    “Accredited private institution” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 256.183(1).

    “Commission” means the college student aid commission.

    “Financial need” means the difference between the student’s financial resources, including resources available from the student’s parents and the student, as determined by a completed parents’ financial statement and including any non-campus-administered federal or state grants and scholarships, and the student’s estimated expenses while attending the institution. A student shall accept all available federal and state grants and scholarships before being considered eligible for grants under the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success program. Financial need shall be reconsidered on at least an annual basis.

    “Full-time student” means an individual who is enrolled at an accredited private institution or regent university for at least 12 semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent.

    “Minority person” means an individual who is black, Hispanic, Asian, a Pacific Islander, an American Indian, or an Alaskan Native American.

    “Part-time student” means an individual who is enrolled at an accredited private institution or regent university in a course of study including at least three semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent of three semester hours.

    “Program” means the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success (IMAGES) program established in this rule.

    “Voucher” means a record of program participation given to an individual. Such record may be on paper or tracked in a digital format.

    1.5(2) Policy on college-bound program.

    a.  The regent universities will cooperate with other state and local agencies, including the department of education, the commission, and educational institutions in implementing the college-bound program to provide Iowa minority students with information and experiences relating to opportunities offered at the regent universities.

    b.  The universities will develop programs for elementary, middle and secondary school students and their families in the following areas:

    (1)  Encouragement to consider attending a postsecondary institution;

    (2)  Enrichment and academic preparation;

    (3)  Information about how to apply for admission.

    c.  College-bound program vouchers will be awarded to students on the basis of the participation of the student and the student’s family in the college-bound program.

    (1)  Each university will maintain records concerning those students who participate in the college-bound program, according to its established policies and procedures. The records will include information on those students who have received college-bound program vouchers that are described in Iowa Code section 262.92(2). The universities will make appropriate information available to the commission.

    (2)  College-bound program vouchers may be used by students enrolled at a regent university or at a private college or university in Iowa.

    (3)  In years when the program described in Iowa Code section 256.213 is funded with state appropriations, students holding vouchers and enrolling at a regent university will receive priority in the awarding of funds under the IMAGES program. Awards under the IMAGES program are made on the basis of financial need. A student may be eligible for an additional award from the institution in which the student is enrolled.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.92.

681—1.6(262) Application fees. Mandatory application fees for admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa shall be approved by the state board of regents and shall be based on reasonable costs anticipated to be incurred by the institution in processing the application unless otherwise approved by the state board of regents.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).