Iowa State University College Portrait
Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA 50011
515-294-4111
Iowa State University
Advancing land-grant ideals and putting science and technology to work.
Iowa State University is a place where adventurous minds are encouraged to accomplish amazing things. As a major international university ranked in the top fifty among public universities by U.S. News and World Report, Iowa State offers a student experience rich in social and academic diversity. One hundred majors, over 700 clubs and more than 27,000 students enrich college life in a beautiful park-like campus. Big 12 sports and a tradition of cultural and popular performances make campus life fun and memorable. At Iowa State University students can discover their passions and unlock their potential.
Living in the Cyclones Community
Iowa State, ranked as one of the nation's most beautiful campuses, uniquely offers students unlimited academic and social opportunities in a welcoming, personal environment.
With nearly 700 clubs and organizations some of the most memorable adventures happen outside the classroom. Once you become an Iowa State student, you'll become part of a dynamic campus and community environment. Our clubs and organizations provide students with unlimited leadership, social and cultural opportunities. With so many different options out there, you're guaranteed to find the perfect fit for you.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 28,682 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 23,104 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 10,098 | 44% |
| Men | 13,006 | 56% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 51 | <1% |
| Asian | 649 | 3% |
| African American / Black | 572 | 2% |
| Hispanic | 729 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 13 | <1% |
| White | 18,293 | 79% |
| Two or More Races | 214 | 1% |
| International | 1,775 | 8% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 808 | 3% |
| Where do ISU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Iowa | 70% |
| Other US States & Territories | 23% |
| Other Countries | 7% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are ISU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 8% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 22 - 28 | |
| Math | 22 - 28 | 530 - 670 |
| English | 21 - 28 | |
| Critical Reading | 460 - 640 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 61% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 92% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 73% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.54 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $18,921
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Iowa State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 54% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,413. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 45% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,506. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
ISU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 58% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 80% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,368 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 32% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 20% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 95% |
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Campus-based Housing
90% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
46% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Some of the ways Iowa State ensures its commitment to safety include staffing a 24-hour police department, offering a campus escort service, and providing an Help Van to assist motorists. The new ISU Alert system will quickly alert Iowa State University students, faculty and staff of potentially dangerous situations through telephone calls, text messages, and e-mail.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at ISU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 97% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 58% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 33% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 87% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 28% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 65% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 64% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 28% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 70% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 64% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 92% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 59% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 76% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 67% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 60% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 84% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 47% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 86% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 85% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 84% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Iowa State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 4,429 |
| Master's | 800 |
| Doctoral | 421 |
| Total | 5,650 |
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| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS | 6% |
| Mechanical Engineering | 5% |
| Marketing | 4% |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 4% |
| Animal Sciences | 4% |
| Links to degree programs at Iowa State University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 91% four-year success and progress rate means that 91% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 3,669 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,365 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 86%
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Student Learning at Iowa State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
ISU’s commitment to enhancing student learning and excellent teaching is a central part of its land grant heritage. Iowa State has published outcomes and assessment processes in every college at all levels, and draws on assessment results to understand students’ knowledge, understanding, and ability to use their knowledge in the workplace. Student outcomes assessment is interwoven into student course evaluation, program review, accreditation, curriculum development, and internal academic standards. The University’s efforts to enhance student learning include several distinctive and progressive initiatives. ISU is a nationally recognized leader in Learning Communities, which have bolstered student academic success. In addition, we are implementing an innovative, four-year communication curriculum for undergraduates, ISUComm, which sets a new standard for communication education.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Results from the pilot project using the CAAP test are not yet available.