Iowa State University (ISU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Iowa State University
Morning chimes from the campanile drift over a leafy central lawn, setting an easy rhythm for serious study. Iowa State is known for strengths in engineering, agriculture, the sciences, design, business, and computing. Courses lean hands-on, with studios and labs that encourage building and testing, not just talking. Students find makerspaces, libraries, advising and tutoring, plus health and counseling services that are straightforward to use.
Student life feels collaborative and grounded, with Cyclone pride showing up in clubs, intramurals, arts nights, and plenty of trails. A nearby research park and regional ties help line up internships and co-ops, while career centers and faculty contacts sharpen résumés and interviews. Ames is a classic college town with coffee shops and bike-friendly streets, and bigger city options in Des Moines are within reach. Longstanding bell tower traditions give the place character, and alumni like George Washington Carver and Carrie Chapman Catt set a thoughtful precedent.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Iowa State University (ISU) offers 169 degree programs across 28 major academic fields, graduating approximately 7,793 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Engineering (15 programs, 1,499 graduates), Business (18 programs, 1,303 graduates), Agriculture (23 programs, 980 graduates), Biological Sciences (17 programs, 472 graduates) and Computer & IT (5 programs, 457 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Engineering (15 programs, 1,499 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 369 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1901 |
| Aerospace Engineering | 192 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0201 |
| Civil Engineering | 148 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0801 |
| Software Engineering | 142 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.0903 |
| Computer Engineering | 114 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0901 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 98 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1001 |
| Industrial Engineering | 96 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.3501 |
| Chemical Engineering | 81 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0701 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 60 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1101 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 58 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0301 |
| Construction Engineering | 54 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.3301 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 35 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0501 |
| Materials Engineering | 30 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1801 |
| Environmental Health Engineering | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1401 |
| Systems Engineering | 9 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14.2701 |
Business (18 programs, 1,303 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Management | 270 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Finance, General | 244 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
52.0801 |
| Accounting | 173 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0301 |
| Business Administration and Management | 153 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
52.0201 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 116 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0203 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 87 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
52.1399 |
| Sales Skills and Operations | 67 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.1804 |
| Meeting and Event Planning | 62 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0907 |
| Entrepreneurship Studies | 44 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
52.0701 |
| Hospitality Management | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52.0901 |
| Human Resources Management | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1001 |
| International Business and Trade | 14 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1101 |
| Actuarial Science | 11 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1304 |
| Business Economics | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0601 |
| Organizational Leadership | 7 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0213 |
| Management Science | 5 |
|
Master's
|
52.1301 |
| Real Estate | 5 |
|
Master's
|
52.1501 |
| Digital Marketing | 1 |
|
Post-Master's
|
52.1404 |
Agriculture (23 programs, 980 graduates)
Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Sciences | 229 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.0901 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 157 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
01.8001 |
| Agribusiness Operations | 109 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0102 |
| Agronomy and Crop Science | 108 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1102 |
| Farm and Ranch Management | 103 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0104 |
| International Agriculture | 51 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0701 |
| Horticultural Science | 49 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
01.1103 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 39 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0201 |
| Food Science | 28 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1001 |
| Soil Science and Agronomy | 20 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1201 |
| Agricultural Education and Extension Services | 14 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.0801 |
| Animal and Livestock Production | 10 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
01.0302 |
| Dairy Science | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0905 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 8 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.0308 |
| Agricultural Journalism | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0802 |
| Plant Breeding | 8 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1104 |
| Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Public Health | 8 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.8110 |
| Equine Science and Management | 7 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
01.0307 |
| Livestock Management | 5 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.0906 |
| Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology | 4 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.8107 |
| Veterinary Pathology | 3 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.8108 |
| Agricultural Animal Breeding | 2 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.0902 |
| Veterinary Sciences and Clinical Sciences | 1 |
|
Master's
|
01.8101 |
Biological Sciences (17 programs, 472 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology and Biological Sciences | 177 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0101 |
| Ecology | 95 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.1301 |
| Genetics | 46 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0801 |
| Biomedical Sciences | 45 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0102 |
| Microbiology | 36 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0502 |
| Biochemistry | 29 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0202 |
| Bioinformatics | 11 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1103 |
| Plant Physiology | 9 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0307 |
| Animal Physiology | 5 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0707 |
| Plant Pathology | 4 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0305 |
| Neuroscience | 4 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1501 |
| Entomology | 3 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0702 |
| Biophysics | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0203 |
| Cell and Molecular Biology | 2 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0406 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1310 |
| Immunology | 1 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0507 |
| Toxicology | 1 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1004 |
Computer & IT (5 programs, 457 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | 249 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
11.0103 |
| Computer Science | 188 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0701 |
| Information Systems Security and Auditing | 13 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
|
11.1003 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 4 |
|
Master's
|
11.0102 |
| Software and Media Applications | 3 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
11.0899 |
Education (15 programs, 348 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education | 157 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1202 |
| General Education | 54 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0101 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 35 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1301 |
| Higher Education Administration | 33 |
|
Master's
|
13.0406 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 15 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0301 |
| Early Childhood Education | 14 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1210 |
| Music Teacher Education | 12 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1312 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | 11 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0401 |
| Instructional Technology | 5 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
13.0501 |
| Higher Education Teaching | 5 |
|
Post-Master's
|
13.1214 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2 |
|
Master's
|
13.1311 |
| English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching | 2 |
|
Master's
|
13.1401 |
| Special Education Teaching | 1 |
|
Master's
|
13.1001 |
| Secondary Education and Teaching | 1 |
|
Master's
|
13.1205 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development | 1 |
|
Post-Master's
|
13.1299 |
Arts (6 programs, 294 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 90 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0409 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 76 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0404 |
| Interior Design | 62 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0408 |
| Design and Visual Communications | 35 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0401 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0101 |
| Music | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0901 |
Kinesiology (1 programs, 240 graduates)
Exercise Science, Sports Medicine and Physical Recreation
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 240 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
31.0505 |
Psychology (1 programs, 234 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 234 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.0101 |
Human Sciences (6 programs, 220 graduates)
Family Studies, Consumer Sciences and Human Development
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apparel and Textiles | 92 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
19.0901 |
| Human Development and Family Studies | 73 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
19.0701 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences | 35 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
19.0101 |
| Family Resource Management | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
19.0401 |
| Human Nutrition | 4 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
19.0504 |
| Child Development | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
19.0706 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Iowa State University (ISU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Iowa State University (ISU)
How much does it cost to attend Iowa State University (ISU)?
The annual tuition at Iowa State University (ISU) is $10,497 for in-state students and $27,683 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $24,204 for in-state students and $41,390 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $9,726 and books and supplies $1,091.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Iowa State University offer?
Iowa State University (ISU) offers 169 academic programs across 28 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (≥2 yrs), Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional).
Most popular program areas include:
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions (15 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (18 programs)
- Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (23 programs)
- Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (17 programs)
- Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity (5 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Iowa State University?
Iowa State University (ISU) has an 89.1% acceptance rate and a 28.6% yield rate, making it moderately selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 22,995
- Students admitted: 20,496
- Students enrolled: 5,859
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Iowa State University?
Iowa State University (ISU) provides financial aid to 23% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $10,718 and average loans of $8,317.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,176
- State/Local grants: $4,197
- Institutional grants: $9,582
- Federal loans: $5,237
The university supports 4,366 students with grants and 2,678 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Iowa State University graduates?
Iowa State University (ISU) graduates earn a median salary of $53,873 after 6 years and $63,386 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $43,544 (25th percentile) to $90,188 (75th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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