Iowa State University

Ames, IA · founded 1858 · 28,000 students · public research university · Big 12 Conference

Known for: A leading land-grant university renowned for its programs in agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine, and as the birthplace of the first electronic digital computer.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #115
QS World: #451
Times Higher Education: #351
ARWU Shanghai: #201
Forbes: #154

Top programmes

Agricultural Engineering
Veterinary Medicine
Materials Science & Engineering
Architecture
Statistics
Design

Notable alumni

George Washington Carver — Renowned agricultural scientist and inventor
John Vincent Atanasoff — Physicist and inventor of the first electronic digital computer
Carrie Chapman Catt — Women's suffrage leader and founder of the League of Women Voters
Clayton Anderson — NASA astronaut
Ted Kooser — Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and U.S. Poet Laureate
Jeffrey R. Immelt — Former CEO of General Electric
Tara VanDerveer — Hall of Fame women's college basketball coach

Traditions

VEISHEA (historic spring festival)
Campaniling (kissing under the Campanile at midnight)
Hilton Magic (basketball game atmosphere)
The Iowa State Fair partnership

If Iowa State University were…

As a food: Iowa corn-fed ribeye — Like this premium cut that combines agricultural roots with precise preparation, Iowa State transforms practical farming knowledge into cutting-edge engineering and biotechnology.
As an athlete: Dan Gable — Like the legendary Iowa wrestler known for technical precision and relentless work ethic, Iowa State engineers approach problems with methodical brilliance and midwestern perseverance.
As a person alive today: Bill Gates — Like the tech visionary who started with practical programming problems before tackling global challenges, Iowa State builds from agricultural engineering fundamentals to space exploration technologies.
As a historical figure: George Washington Carver — Like the agricultural scientist who transformed humble crops into industrial products, Iowa State's research turns corn into biofuels and engineering principles into space-age materials.
As a movie or TV show: The Martian — Like the film's hero who uses engineering ingenuity to survive on Mars, Iowa State graduates approach problems with practical, hands-on solutions drawn from agricultural and mechanical expertise.
As a US president: Dwight D. Eisenhower — Like the president who built the interstate highway system connecting America's heartland, Iowa State's engineering legacy connects agricultural tradition with transportation and infrastructure innovation.
As a city: Stuttgart — Like the German city that evolved from agricultural center to engineering powerhouse (Mercedes, Porsche), Ames transformed from farming college to research university while maintaining its practical midwestern character.
As an element: Silicon — Like silicon—the fundamental element of both agricultural soil and computer chips—Iowa State bridges its farming heritage with high-tech innovation in computing and materials science.
As a car: Ford F-150 XLT — Land-grant engineering school in the heartland that's practical, friendly, and built for work—alumni design tractors and bridges, not investment portfolios, and everyone waves at you in the parking lot.

Campus life

Campus life centers around a strong sense of community and school spirit, with a large Greek system and over 800 student organizations. Game days for Cyclone athletics are major social events, and the campus is known for its friendly, Midwestern atmosphere.