Iowa State University — College Profile

About

As the nation's first operational land-grant institution, Iowa State University is widely recognized for its powerhouse programs in engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and design. Located in the welcoming college town of Ames, the university offers a high-energy student experience defined by passionate Big 12 athletics, over 800 student organizations, and beloved campus traditions centered around its scenic central lawn and historic campanile. Iowa State uniquely pairs major research capabilities—including hosting the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory directly on campus—with exceptional undergraduate support through its nationally acclaimed Learning Communities program.

Wikipedia:The Iowa State University of Science and Technology, also referred to as Iowa State University, is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the nation's first designated land-grant institutions when the Iowa Legislature accepted the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act on September 11, 1862. On July 4, 1959, the college was officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology.

Location

Ames, IA, 50011-2103 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

OMA · Omaha

126 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$10,787$28,881

Housing & food (on campus)$10,808$10,808

Books & supplies$700$700

Cost of attendance$24,018$48,614

Average net price$18,589Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$28,881

In-state: $10,787

Housing & food (on campus)$10,808

Books & supplies$700

Cost of attendance$48,614

In-state: $24,018

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $18,589

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: financialaid.iastate.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

Iowa State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$30,876

Fees$1,526

Housing$11,162

Books & supplies$800

Personal expenses$2,850

Transportation$1,400

Total of the above$48,614

Source: financialaid.iastate.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$10,582

$30–48k

$11,506

$48–75k

$15,463

$75–110k

$19,605

$110k+

$22,496

Your family's actual price → Iowa State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

75%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

57%

Back for yr 2

88%

Transferred

18%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

76% graduated · 17% transferred · 6% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$53,873

10 yrs after entry$63,386

Debt

Median at graduation$22,869

Monthly payment$242

Middle 50% owe$8.3k–$27k

90th percentile$32,500

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

89%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1204

R 560–670 · M 560–690

ACT midpoint

Comp 21–28 · E 20–27 · M 20–27

SAT middle 50%: 1120–1360

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Iowa State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 55%Women 45%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

18 : 1

Pell grant

19%

First-gen

20%

Family income

$76,488

Independent

Veterans

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

75%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Gymnastics
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Women's
Tennis
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$53,873

After 10 yrs

$63,386

Mechanical Engineering356

Business Administration, Management and Operations345

Marketing331

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness250

Psychology, General246

Computer Engineering243

Animal Sciences235

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods231

Design and Applied Arts216

Finance and Financial Management Services212

Agricultural Business and Management177

Computer and Information Sciences, General174

Biology, General158

Civil Engineering123

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering121

Accounting and Related Services118

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$1.6B

Full-time faculty

84%

Faculty salary

$12,702/mo

Teaching spend

$12,347

per student

Federal loans

43%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$462M research spending · 368 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile