Iowa State University

www.iastate.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$8,324

3.51% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$15,422

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.796%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

91.1%

20,357 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

30,708

89.7% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

76%

4,693 Graduates

About

Iowa State University is a higher education institution located in Story County, IA. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Iowa State University were Mechanical Engineering (451 degrees awarded), General Marketing & Marketing Management (270 degrees), and General Finance (258 degrees).

In 2021, 8,681 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Iowa State University. 46.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 53.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (6,233 degrees), 13.9 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (449 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Iowa State University is $8,324, which is $−20,668 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Photo by SD Dirk

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Iowa State University is $8,324, which is $−20,668 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $15,422.

In 2021, 74% of undergraduate students attending Iowa State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 48% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$8,324

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Iowa State University was $8,324. The cost of tuition at Iowa State University is $−20,668 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Iowa State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$15,422

2021 Value

4.24%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Iowa State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,422. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Iowa State University grew by 4.24%.

This chart compares the average net price of Iowa State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,193

Room and Board

$1,001

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Iowa State University was of $9,193 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 0.481% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,001. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 3.84% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Iowa State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

74%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

48%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

74% of undergraduate students at Iowa State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 23.7% with respect to 2020, when 97% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Iowa State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.796%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Iowa State University was 0.796%, which represents 50 out of the 6279 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Iowa State University received 20,357 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 0.663% annual growth. Out of those 20,357 applicants, 18,550 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 91.1% acceptance rate.

There were 30,708 students enrolled at Iowa State University in 2021. 13% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Iowa State University has an overall enrollment yield of 29%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

91.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

18,550

Accepted Out of 20,357

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Iowa State University was 91.1% (18,550 admissions from 20,357 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 88.4%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 0.663%, while admissions grew by 3.74%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Iowa State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

13%

Submission Percentage (2021)

724

Scores Submitted (2021)

13% of enrolled first-time students at Iowa State University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Iowa State University had a total enrollment of 30,708 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Iowa State University is 27,553 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,155. This means that 89.7% of students enrolled at Iowa State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Iowa State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 72.6% White, 6.49% Hispanic or Latino, 3.79% Asian, 2.73% Two or More Races, 2.67% Black or African American, 0.176% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0586% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Iowa State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (42.7%), followed by White Female (34.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.54%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (26.3%), followed by White Male (20.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (2.3%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

89.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Iowa State University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 30,708 students. The full-time enrollment at Iowa State University is 27,553 and the part-time enrollment is 3,155. This means that 89.7% of students enrolled at Iowa State University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Iowa State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

88%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Iowa State University was 88%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Iowa State University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Iowa State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
22,282 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,993 enrolled students
Asian
1,165 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Iowa State University is 72.6% White, 6.49% Hispanic or Latino, 3.79% Asian, 2.73% Two or More Races, 2.67% Black or African American, 0.176% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0586% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,005 students (3.27%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 585 fewer women than men received degrees from Iowa State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Iowa State University is white (6,233 degrees awarded). There were 13.9 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (449 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Iowa State University is Mechanical Engineering (451 degrees awarded), followed by General Marketing & Marketing Management (270 degrees) and General Finance (258 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Iowa State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Agriculture (805 degrees awarded), Engineering (1,913 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (136 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Iowa State University are Software developers (391,538 people), Other managers (358,362 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (335,307 people), Civil engineers (263,800 people), and Mechanical engineers (191,776 people).

The most specialized majors at Iowa State University in 2021 are Agriculture (805 degrees awarded), Engineering (1,913 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (136 degrees), Human Sciences (299 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (135 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Iowa State University are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Physicians, and Nurse anesthetists

The most specialized majors at Iowa State University are Agriculture (805 degrees awarded), Engineering (1,913 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (136 degrees), Human Sciences (299 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (135 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Iowa State University are Architectural, engineering & related services (552,402 people), Computer Systems Design (429,388 people), Construction (323,030 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (226,969 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (195,571 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Iowa State University.

Most Common (2021)

Mechanical Engineering
451 degrees awarded
General Marketing & Marketing Management
270 degrees awarded
General Finance
258 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Iowa State University was Mechanical Engineering with 451 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Iowa State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,633

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

4,048

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 4,633 degrees were awarded to men at Iowa State University, which is 1.14 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,048).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Iowa State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 394 degrees were awarded to men at Iowa State University in Mechanical Engineering, which is 6.91 times more than the 57 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 202 degrees were awarded to men at Iowa State University in Dietetics, which is 16.8 times more than the 12 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

47%

100% Completion Time

74%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 47% of students graduating from Iowa State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 74% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 76% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (81.5%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Iowa State University is Female and White (81.5% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.88% of graduates (182 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
6,233 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
449 degrees awarded
Asian
297 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Iowa State University is white (6,233 degrees awarded). There were 13.9 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (449 degrees).

5.25% of degree recipients (456 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Male
3,282 degrees awarded
White Female
2,951 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
254 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Iowa State University is white male (3,282 degrees awarded). There were 1.11 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2951 degrees).

Operations

Iowa State University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.4B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 59.7M (4.25%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Iowa State University had a total salary expenditure of 1.26B. Iowa State University employs 547 Professors, 525 Associate professors and 395 Assistant professors. Most academics at Iowa State University are Male Professor (407), Male Associate professor (296), and Female Associate professor (229).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Iowa State University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 748 employees, Management, with 610 employees, and Research with 521 employees.

Endowment

$1.4B

2021 Endowment

35.7%

growth from 2020

Iowa State University has an endowment valued at about $1.4B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Iowa State University grew 35.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $1.02B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Iowa State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$184M - Federal
$13.8M - State
$885k - Local

As of 2021, Iowa State University received $184M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $13.8M from state grants and contracts, and $885k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$607M

2021 Salaries

0.69%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Iowa State University paid a median of $607M in salaries, which represents 48% of their overall expenditure ($1.26B) and a 0.69% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$166M

Instructional Salaries

1,485

Number of Employees

In 2021, Iowa State University paid a total of $166M to 1,485 employees working as instructors, which represents 27.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

547 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

748 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Iowa State University were Professor with 547 employees, Associate professor with 525 employees, and Assistant professor with 395 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Iowa State University were Business and Financial Operations with 748 employees, Management with 610 employees, and Research with 521 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Iowa State University was Male Professor with 407 employees, Male Associate professor with 296 employees, and Female Associate professor with 229 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Iowa State University.