Address: 2433 Union Drive, 50011 Ames, Iowa, United States
Agriculture, Engineering, Veterinary Medicine
Chartered in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State University stands in Ames, Iowa. Classes started in 1868-69, and in 1864 the state designated it the Iowa land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862.
Computing history gives the university one of its best-known stories. The first electronic digital computer was built at Iowa State around 1939, following the work of John Vincent Atanasoff. Agriculture, engineering and veterinary medicine are the fields the directory associates with the campus.
In fall 2025 enrollment reached 31,105 students, made up of 26,346 undergraduates, 4,116 graduate students and 643 students in the professional veterinary medicine programme. The university is a public institution and the state’s land-grant campus.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Land-grant university. Birthplace of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer. Strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and design. Member of AAU.
Research:
A major research university with strengths in agricultural sciences, engineering (especially agricultural and aerospace), veterinary medicine, materials science, and data science. High research activity.
Famous Alumnis:
George Washington Carver, John Atanasoff, Lee Teng-hui, Carrie Chapman Catt, T.A. Wilson
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
8000
Current students***:
36000
Foreign students***:
5%
Cumulative former students***:
270000
Pros
Leading programs in agriculture and engineering, historic contributions to computing, strong research in areas relevant to Iowa’s economy.
Cons
Located in a smaller city (Ames), very cold winters, large student population.
Best For
Students seeking strong programs in agriculture, engineering, design, or veterinary medicine at a major land-grant research university with a rich history of innovation.
Royal Veterinary College, based in London, gives the United Kingdom a public specialist in veterinary medicine, nursing and bioscience.
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (Germany) is public, with agricultural and environmental sciences.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What was Iowa State originally called?
It was chartered in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm.
When did classes begin?
The college opened to students in 1868-69.
Why is Iowa State a land-grant university?
Iowa accepted the Morrill Act of 1862, and in 1864 the Iowa General Assembly designated the college as the state's land-grant institution.
What is Iowa State's place in computing history?
The electronic digital computer was invented at Iowa State in the late 1930s by John Vincent Atanasoff, and the first such machine was built there around 1939.
How many students study there?
In fall 2025 the university reported 31,105 students, including 26,346 undergraduates and 4,116 graduate students.
Does it offer a veterinary degree?
Yes. A professional veterinary medicine programme enrolled 643 students in fall 2025.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
