About Iowa State

ISU at a glance

Iowa State's student-built solar car finished third in the stock class of the 2005 North American Solar Challenge, the world's longest solar car race.

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.

Nice study spots abound on central campus.

Academics

U.S. News & World Report ranks Iowa State among the top 50 public national universities. Half of ISU freshman 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.

The ISU Center hosts top entertainers from around the world.

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 half day's drive or less from Kansas City, Omaha and Chicago. Ames info and photos.

Fast Company magazine ranked Des Moines as the "hippest city in America."

Iowa

Great schools, safe communities, plenty of entertainment and friendly people are part of what makes Iowa the fourth most-liveable 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.