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Summary
Iowa State University is a public institution that was founded in 1858. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,104, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,984 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Iowa State University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 97. Its in-state tuition and fees are $7,486 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $19,358 (2011-12).
Iowa State University dwarfs Ames, the small town in which it resides. The large school offers more than 750 student organizations, and sports are a big part of campus life. The Iowa State Cyclones compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference, and share a special rivalry with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Despite the Cyclones moniker, the school mascot is a cardinal named Cy because a cyclone was hard to put into costume form. There are nearly 50 fraternities and sororities at Iowa State, and most chapters have their own houses. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, and Greek members can move into sorority or fraternity houses during their first year at school. The Greek system is sizable, but, at a school as large as Iowa State, it counts less than 10 percent of students among its members. There are more than 100 undergraduate majors offered at Iowa State, and, through the Soar in 4 initiative, advisers work with students to ensure they graduate in four years. For a study break, students can take a stroll through the roses in Reiman Gardens or check out more than 600 works of art around the campus—the biggest collection at any school in the country. Each spring, students put on VEISHEA, a campus-wide celebration with a parade and famous musical performers. For trips off campus, Des Moines is 30 minutes away.
Iowa State University offers highly ranked graduate programs through its College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Engineering, as well as one of the nation’s only degree programs in human computer interaction. The university is a land-grant institution, meaning faculty and students work on research projects that better the community as a whole. At the university’s Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station Specific, projects range from biorenewable fuel production to soybean research. The campus is also home to the Ames Lab, a research center for the U.S. Department of Energy. Notable alumni include Bruce Roth, inventor of the pharmaceutical drug Lipitor, and Carrie Chapman Catt, cofounder of the League of Women Voters.
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Students who enroll at this major research, land-grant university experience a unique personal, welcoming environment, and a rich collection of academic and extracurricular programs that help them discover their own individual greatness. Iowa State's mission to create, share, and apply knowledge to make the world a better place, and the university's commitment to excellence, have attracted faculty and staff who are passionate about learning and discovery. Iowa State students are curious, resourceful, and innovative. Iowa State graduates are prepared to be global citizens who are culturally informed, technologically adept, and ready to lead. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1858 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $477,877,045 |
Applying
When applying to Iowa State University, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due July 1. The application fee at Iowa State University is $40. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 80.5 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 81% |
| Application deadline | rolling |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | July 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Iowa State University is 17:1, and the school has 30.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Iowa State University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Visual and Performing Arts. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 84.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 37% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Iowa State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,104, with a gender distribution of 56.3 percent male students and 43.7 percent female students. 45.6 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 54.4 percent of students live off campus. Iowa State University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Iowa State University.
| Total enrollment | 28,682 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Iowa State University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Iowa State University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Iowa State University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Iowa State University, 54.2 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,413.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $7,486 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $19,358 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $7,622 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
