Going to university can feel overwhelming at times. There’s the hustle and bustle of rushing to class, adjusting to a new lifestyle, and moving through social dynamics.
At Iowa State University, the campus may be expansive and home to over 30,000 students, but it retains a small, close-knit feel. It’s easy to meet new people and collaborate with peers.
As for the faculty and facilities, they ensure you get the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to excel in your chosen field. Whether it is working for a company, continuing in academia, or starting your own venture, everything at Iowa State University is designed to help you succeed.
It has the track record to back this: 76.9% of undergraduates, 83.6% of postgraduates, and 96% of PhD holders secure jobs within six months after completing their degree. And among all 50 state public university systems nationwide, Iowa State and Iowa’s other public institutions rank #3 for highest student return on investment.
Like other Cyclones, Dhananjay (DJ) Dileep (‘21 Chemical Engineering master’s, ’24 PhD) is maximising the impact of his Iowa State education. Working alongside Research Scientist Michael Forrester, and Professor Eric Cochran, he cofounded ImPETus to scale chemical recycling technology solutions, which offer the promise of retaining quality in recycled materials. “I don’t want my thesis to just stay there in some dusty pile,” he says. “I want it to make a difference.”
Approximately 9.5% of the student body at Iowa State University are from abroad. Source: Iowa State University
Perfect for international students
International students find Iowa State University a perfect fit. Hosting over 2,800 students from 116 countries, the university is welcoming. Many student clubs and organisations frequently hold activities for you to forge lifelong friendships and find a sense of belonging.
Applying here is easy too. For international students coming to the US, the university’s own International Students and Scholars Office will provide courteous and timely services that help with applications, immigration, and settling in.
Study at the largest undergraduate business college in Iowa
The Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business stands out as one of the best colleges in 2024 and the largest undergraduate business college in Iowa. Whether you’re pursuing Accounting and Finance or Management and Entrepreneurship, you’ll have access to the college’s wide range of resources from day one. These include academic advising, career services, student organisations, and writing and speaking centre.
For Indian student Sahil Bakhai, it was the college’s networking opportunities and extracurricular activities that polished his skills and prepared him for the corporate world. Not only did he learn the technical skills necessary for a career in management, but he also developed critical soft skills to help him excel in the workplace.
“The Ivy College of Business gave me the resources to learn and grow once I knew what I needed from my MBA,” he says.
Bakhai credits his professors for his achievements. Director of Graduate Business Career Services, Tabatha Carney, was key in his victory at the Ethical Leadership Competition at Baylor University. Other faculty refined his resume, prepared him for interviews, and secured him an internship position at Ricoh USA as a global marketing intern. During his internship, he did well by using what he learned in his supply chain management course.
“In the corporate world, you are hardly given any data or directions; you need to assume and justify your assumptions to move forward,” he says. “The learnings and assignments from that class helped me during my internship.”
Programmes at the College of Engineering are a mix of research-based and coursework-only courses. Source: Iowa State University
Real research projects, real impact
The College of Engineering is another standout for programmes that encourage practical work. Curriculum is research-based, spurring students to come up with solutions that address real-world issues.
Take Kelly Coelho‘s project, for example. Coming from northern Brazil, her work on soil loss modelling aims to help local farmers identify the most critical areas for implementing conservation practices.
“We use digital elevation models that originate from satellite images to analyse water flow across the landscape. We use soil data and land-use data to input all those things into a model. Then we can calculate how much soil is being lost in a certain field,” she says. “My work would help with watershed planning, telling the farmers and conservationists, ‘this is how much soil you’re losing, and this is what you could do to prevent those losses.'”
Other research areas that you could explore include Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, Engineered Medicine, Energy Systems, Resilient Infrastructures, and Secure Cyberspace & Autonomy.
Living in Ames, Iowa
Just like the university, the city of Ames offers a unique blend of small-town charm and big amenities. With a population of around 65,000 (nearly half of whom are students), Ames is an ideal university town for learning and living.
The city is student-centric, with no shortage of cultural, recreational, educational, business, and entertainment offerings. The lower total cost of living and a large pool of international students make Ames one of the top 25 most liveable college towns in the US.
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