Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology 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.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 89%
- Average net price: $17,779
- Undergraduate enrollment: 26,641
- Graduation rate (150%): 75%
- Graduation rate (200%): 77%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 76%
- Student to faculty ratio: 18:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $63,386
- Median earnings (8 years): $59,021
- Median earnings (6 years): $53,873
- Control: Public
- Locale: City, small
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Ames, IA
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Iowa State include Mechanical Engineering, Marketing, Exercise Science and Kinesiology.
- Mechanical Engineering (369 bachelor's) · median earnings $85,938 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,822
- Marketing (245 bachelor's) · median earnings $66,482 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (234 bachelor's) · median earnings $60,059 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,204
- Animal Sciences (222 bachelor's) · median earnings $51,644 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,500
- Finance (215 bachelor's) · median earnings $75,360 4 years after graduation · median debt $19,625
- Psychology (204 bachelor's) · median earnings $49,286 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,000
- Aerospace Engineering (173 bachelor's) · median earnings $94,089 4 years after graduation · median debt $26,017
- Biology (173 bachelor's) · median earnings $53,447 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,375
- Elementary Education and Teaching (157 bachelor's) · median earnings $47,462 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,529
- Computer Software Engineering (142 bachelor's) · median earnings $105,753 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,750
Degree mix: Business 29%, Engineering 36%, Computer Science 11%, Health 3%, Biological Sciences 11%, Psychology 5%, Communication 5%.
Award levels offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Iowa State students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $10,582 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $10,582
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $11,506
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $15,463
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $19,605
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $22,496
- In-state tuition and fees: $10,787
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $28,881
- Books and supplies: $700
- On-campus room and board: $10,808
- Off-campus room and board: $9,576
- Off-campus with family: $2,900
- Typical cost of attendance: $24,018
- Sticker vs net gap: 26%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 19%
- Federal loan recipients: 43%
- Average institutional grant: $9,608
- Average federal loan: $5,945
- Median debt at graduation: $22,869
Admissions
Iowa State admits 89% of applicants. Of students admitted, 29% enrolled.
- Applications: 23,095
- Admitted: 20,475
- Enrolled: 5,906
- Yield (first-choice signal): 29%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 26,641
- Women: 46%
- Commuter share (estimated): 61%
- Part-time undergraduates: 4%
- Age 25 and older: 3%
- Graduate students: 2,963
- Graduation rate: 75%
- Come back after freshman year: 88%
- First-generation: 20%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 59%
- Student to faculty: 18:1
- Professor salary: $138,313
- Associate professor salary: $103,351
- Assistant professor salary: $92,515
- On-campus housing capacity: 10,258
- Average SAT: 1,250
- Average ACT: 24
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Iowa State acceptance rate? Iowa State admits 89% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Iowa State cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $10,582 a year after aid. Average net price is $17,779.
What majors does Iowa State offer? Popular programs include Mechanical Engineering, Marketing, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Animal Sciences, Finance.
What is the average salary after Iowa State? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $63,386 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Iowa State graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 76% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 75%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Iowa State University official site: https://iastate.edu.