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College

Iowa State University

#2 in Best Value Colleges in Iowa
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Ames, IA
  • 3,397 reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A-
  2. Value
    A
  3. Diversity
    A-
  4. Campus
    A
  5. Athletics
    A
  6. Party Scene
    A
  7. Professors
    A
  8. Location
    A-
  9. Dorms
    B+
  10. Campus Food
    A
  11. Student Life
    A+
  12. Safety
    B
View Full Report Card
Iowa State is a highly rated public university located in Ames, Iowa. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 28,872 undergraduate students. The Iowa State acceptance rate is 87%. Popular majors include Mechanical Engineering, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, and Marketing. Graduating 74% of students, Iowa State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $39,100.
About Iowa State University...
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FBS
Athletic Conference
Big 12 Conference
Address
1750 Beardshear Hall
Ames, IA 50010
Website
iastate.edu

Iowa State University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
87%
Application Deadline
—
SAT Range
980-1270
ACT Range
22-28
Application Fee
$40
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
No
Improve Your SAT/ACT Scores with Test Prep

Cost

Net Price
$13,623/ year
National
$15,523
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $8,692/ year
  • $30-48k
    $9,697/ year
  • $49-75k
    $12,602/ year
  • $76-110k
    $15,676/ year
  • $110k+
    $17,363/ year
Student Loan Options from Lenders
Learn More
  • Rates starting at 4.04% APR + 1% Cash Back
  • No application, origination or disbursement fees
Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

Academics

Professors
A
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
19:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
79%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.189 responses
67%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.210 responses
57%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.210 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Mechanical Engineering
    417 Graduates
  • Kinesiology and Exercise Science
    302 Graduates
  • Marketing
    293 Graduates
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities
    249 Graduates
  • Psychology
    242 Graduates
  • Finance
    233 Graduates
  • Animal Sciences and Husbandry
    231 Graduates
  • Elementary Education
    199 Graduates
  • Accounting
    179 Graduates
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
    179 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
28,872Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
4%
Pell Grant
19%
Varsity Athletes
2%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 138 responses
Report
  • Well balanced between school and social life
    74%
  • Social
    11%
  • Academic based
    9%
  • Conservative Farmer
    5%
  • Thriving
    1%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
—
Poll
51%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.257 responses
Poll
75%
of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.318 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 159 responses
Report
  • Bustling with activity
    27%
  • Big engineering school.
    22%
  • Choose your adventure
    17%
  • The best
    11%
  • Very science focused
    10%
  • Good Agricultural school
    7%
  • Very crowded
    4%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$48,600/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
74%
National
49%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
96%
National
83%
93%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.156 responses
Colleges like Iowa State University
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Iowa State University Reviews

3,397 reviews
All Categories
My experience at Iowa State University has been outstanding. The campus is incredibly beautiful year round. The people have truly made the experience so enjoyable. You find friends right away with tailored programs. There are plenty of different resources to help you as a student too. I love being able to exercise outside or inside two gym facilities. Of course, the most important part is getting a good education and Iowa State provides just that!
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I have loved our entire experience so far with Iowa State University. The email with the acceptance letter came fast and was very entertaining! The college visit was very informative and the students who led us around campus did a great job explaining things and showing us all the perks of being a student there. Orientation was packed full of useful information. It was a great two days of learning about transitioning your students to college. Hearing staff talk about how to help your student be successful and their expectations. And listening to students give advice and tell a little about their experiences. There were sessions on financial aid and the office was open to families with any questions.
I graduated from Iowa State as an International Student and it was one of the best experiences of my life; very different from where I am from but excellent overall. The people, the academics and the campus made it worthwhile and being 2000 miles from home I had trying times but I would immerse myself in something around me (the library, road trip to Chicago, a concert or speaker on campus) and it would carry me through. Love to Iowa State and the people of Iowa!