About Iowa State University
ISU at a glance
Iowa State is a large, prestigious university with a friendly hometown personality. Its 26,000 students choose from 100+ majors, study with world-class scholars, and keep more than 500 student organizations going strong.
Academics
U.S. News & World Report ranks Iowa State among the top 50 public national universities. Half of ISU freshmen get an early boost in academic success by participating in Iowa State's
highly touted learning communities. So many students study or work abroad that ISU is 18th in the nation in that category.
More.
Arts
Iowa State's campus includes more than 200 works of art and was rated as one of America's 25 most beautiful.
More.
Athletics
Iowa State fields 18 intercollegiate teams in the powerful Big 12 Conference. A strong fan base helps the Cyclones continuously break attendance records and earn the top honors in recent national online polls ranking the best "student spirit" (Hilton Coliseum) and "most dominant mascot on Earth" (Cy).
More.
Ames
Ames, Iowa, home of Iowa State University, is ranked among
the top small America cities, both to live and work. Ames (population: 50,000) regularly draws performers like Kenny Chesney, Widespread Panic, and Incubus, along with Broadway musicals and international symphonies. It's approximately 30 minutes from Des Moines and a half day's drive or less from Kansas City, Omaha, and Chicago.
Ames info
and photos.
Iowa
Great schools, safe communities, plenty of entertainment, and friendly people are part of what makes Iowa the fourth most-livable state.
Iowa facts and video.
It's a land-grant
Abraham Lincoln signed the law that gave birth to the land-grant universities. Iowa State was one of the first of these special colleges founded on three big ideas: open higher education to all, teach practical classes, and share knowledge far beyond the campus borders.
