Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Ames, IA 50011
Iowa State University of Science and Technology is a public university in IA, founded in 1858, and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 25,241, and the graduate enrollment is 4,094. Iowa State University of Science and Technology is a moderately selective school, accepting 92.1% of applicants. Its athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels and employ 1,519 full-time instructional staff with a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
ESSAYS
Applicants applying to Iowa State University will apply through the Common Application or the Iowa State Application. Applicants may be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Regular Decision Application Deadline
Rolling
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Standardized Test Scores - Important
- Extracurricular Activities - Considered
- Character/Personal Qualities - Considered
Average Acceptance Rate
92.10%
STUDENT LIFE
Located right in the country’s heartland, Iowa State University of Science and Technology is a leading institution in the fields of agriculture, engineering, and veterinary sciences. The 30,000+ students enrolled here to gain access to state-of-the-art learning facilities and the small-town charm of Ames, Iowa. Get ready for hands-on learning: biology students take diving trips to the Caribbean to study aquatic species, while animal ecology students head to the fields to map the locations of endangered pollinators. Iowa State University of Science and Technology admissions boast they have a big school with a tight-knit feel, and their website highlights the institution’s core values: loyal, forever, true. When you become a Cyclone, as students here are called, you get a classic American campus experience and a degree that, as the university says, “will take you anywhere.”
Housing
On-campus housing at Iowa State includes residence halls, suite-style living, and apartments for students and students with families. During the Iowa State University of Science and Technology admissions counseling process, you’ll likely hear the following stats: first-year students who live on-campus are 45% more likely to stay enrolled; students who live on-campus graduate faster than those who don’t. And the university entices students to remain on-campus with 20 dining options providing scratch-made food to fit any dietary need. Unlike some universities, however, it’s not required for first-year students to live on campus. Off-campus housing can be found in the surrounding town of Ames, but with little public transportation, students who don’t live at Iowa State should consider bringing a car.
Life as a Student
Cyclones compete in NCAA Division I sports in the competitive Big 12 Conference. Don your red and gold and take in a wild football game on Saturdays, or catch a basketball game or soccer match during the week. Or, get in the game yourself in one of the 40 student-run intramural sports clubs. Scale the campus climbing wall, rent outdoor equipment, or blow off steam in the gaming and esports room. Iowa State has everything you need on campus to get the most out of your college experience – academically and personally. Let Empowerly’s Iowa State University of Science and Technology application counseling help you start your Ames adventure!
TOP MAJORS
Mechanical Engineering
Marketing
Finance
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Agricultural Business
Animal Sciences and Husbandry
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security
- Student security patrol
- Late night ride/safe escort
Student Services
- Health Center
- Legal Advice
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Badminton
Baseball
Bowling
Basketball
Lacrosse
Rugby
Soccer
Swimming & Diving
Track & Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Badminton
Baseball
Bowling
Basketball
Lacrosse
Rugby
Soccer
Swimming & Diving
Track & Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Tennis
Track & Field
Tennis
Track & Field
Intramural
Intramural
Badminton
Bowling
Basketball
Field Hockey
Football
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Badminton
Bowling
Basketball
Field Hockey
Football
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition and Fees (Out-of-State) - $26,617
- Food and Housing - $9,358
- Personal - $2,890
- Books and Supplies - $1,091
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (Out-of-State) - $39,956
HISTORY
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, founded in 1858, is a public land-grant university in Ames, Iowa. The school began thanks to the Iowa General Assembly’s legislation’s establishing the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. Located in Story County, the original site for the university consisted of 648 acres of land and would grow, over time, to become the prominent institution of Iowa State.
At the time, Iowa was the first state to accept provisions from the Morrill Act of 1862, and Iowa State became a land-grant institution. Additionally, the institution’s main focus was to promote higher education for all and teach liberal and practical subjects to its students. Iowa Agricultural College was a coeducational school from the start, and the university’s first graduating class in 1872 consisted of 24 men and two women. The Farm House, the first building on the Iowa State campus, was constructed and finished in 1861 and became home to the superintendent of the Model Farm and the deans of Agriculture in later years. The first farm tenets of the college prepared the land for agricultural experimentation, a feature of the school that would become one of the most prominent elements in the future. Practical courses were taught, including training for farmers and classes in mechanical, civil, electrical, and mining engineering. By 1872, domestic economy classes began to be taught on campus, including home economics and family and consumer sciences) and Iowa State became the first land-grant university to offer training in domestic economy for college credit.
With time, more colleges were organized on campus, including the nation’s first state veterinary college, higher-level agricultural programs, and more buildings were built. Unfortunately, in 1938, one of the buildings known as Margaret Hall was destroyed in a fire, but all of the other constructed campus buildings initially still stand today! The university’s name was changed to the Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts. It would remain until 1959 when it was renamed for the last time to become Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Today, Iowa State University is ranked #127 nationally by U.S. News Best Colleges and provides students with the opportunity to study from over 200 fields of study to pursue their interests further. The university maintains a 92.1% acceptance rate, making it not too competitive to apply; students looking to have the best chances at admission should aim to achieve a 3.68 average GPA and a 1220 average SAT score. Famous alumni of Iowa State University include astronaut Clayton Anderson, scientist George Washington Carver, and engineer LeRoy E. Cain.