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F A S T   F A C T S
Location | Ames
Population | 66,424
Enrollment | 30,432
Language | English
Calendar | Semester
Canada | Home & Host

Term Dates
Fall | 08/25-12/19
Spring | 01/20-05/15

Iowa State University

Ames, IA

     
Recognized as one of the 25 most beautiful campuses in the country
Iowa State is widely recognized as a top research university
Explore your interests and make connections with 800+ student clubs and orgs!

About This Campus

Iowa State is an international university with a friendly, welcoming personality. As a top research institution and the nation's first land-grant school, ISU is known for innovations in bio-renewable resources, technology, and communication, and offers nationally recognized programs in the sciences and humanities across six colleges. Our students are from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, actively engaging in research, studying with world-class scholars, and enhancing leadership skills through 850+ student organizations and an exceptional extracurricular environment. The lush, sprawling 1800-acre park-like campus is ranked as one of the country's most beautiful throughout the four seasons, and includes the largest U.S. campus public art collection. We are proud of Cyclone Athletics, with 16 nationally competitive programs in the Big 12 Conference.

Location Information

Ames is a friendly college town centrally located in the midwest. Ranked a "Best College Town" by the American Institute for Economic Research and a Money Magazine "Top 10 Best Places to Live in America." Ames has reliable public transportation called CyRide, which students can ride for free with an ID card. Campus is ~45 minutes by car from Des Moines (nearest airport), the state's capital and a center for insurance, finance, communications, and tech startups.

Helpful Information

Fall course registration begins in March after our spring break. Admission processes require ~2 weeks before you can register for classes; students should act promptly after placement. Prerequisite overrides require unofficial transcripts and approval by the department/college. Non-native English speakers must provide TOEFL prior to admission. International students have a mandatory orientation before NSE orientation.
2025-2026 Chance of Placement
Host Payment |Open
Home Payment |Limited
Campus Availability & Deadlines
2026-2027 Chance of Placement
Host Payment |Open
Home Payment |Good
Understand Chances of Placement

Academics

RegistrationClosed Programs
College of Design studio courses.

Limitations
College of Engineering requires 3.0 GPA. Course flexibility is important as enrollment is competitive.

Notable Academic Programs

  • Agricultural Engineering - The Department at Iowa State was the first in the world to grant a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1905. It is now the largest Agricultural/Biosystems/Biological Engineering department in the country, and is tied for #1 in the U.S., according to the U.S. News and World Report.
  • Statistics - Department established in 1947 and ranks 19th nationally.
  • Computer Science - Iowa State is home to the first electronic digital computer created in 1939. Students may complete courses toward a B.S. in Computer Science or Software Engineering in addition to courses in the Bioinformatics & Computational Biology undergraduate program.
  • Entrepreneurship - Ranked #14 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine (2025). Gain professional skills and networking opportunities through resources like the CyBiz lab, Student Innovation Center, ISU Research Park, and access to outstanding faculty and staff partners.
  • Apparel/Fashion Merchandising - As a top-ranked fashion program at a public institution, Iowa State's AESHM department (pronounced "Awesome") is home to one of the largest student-produced fashion shows in the country!

Unique Academic Programs

  • Meteorology
  • Landscape Architecture/Design - Our undergraduate Landscape Architecture (10th), Interior Design (15th) and Architecture (22nd) programs are ranked in the top 25 nationally by DesignIntelligence.
  • Illustration - The Scientific Illustration and Visualization program is designed for students who want to combine their interests and aptitudes in science and art. The major prepares students for careers in biological illustration or graduate education in medical illustration elsewhere.

Special Programs

Options
Honors Access: Yes

Undergraduate Majors Open to NSE Students

Accounting, Actuarial Science, Advertising... ++ show all

Conditions

GPA and Other Academic Requirements
  • General Eligibility Requirements
  • No students accepted from NSE members within my own state
  • Students seeking enrollment in courses with prerequisites must provide an unofficial transcript, and are subject to approval by the department or college, which can delay registration. Please be prepared to share an unofficial transcript ASAP with coordinators after placement.
Exchange Preferences
  • Full-year exchange Accepted
  • Single term exchange Accepted
Non-Native English Speakers
  • TOEFL: must have a score of 530.00 paper or 71.00 Internet
  • IELTS: must have a score of 6.00
Summer Exchange
  • Summer Only - Home or Host Pay
International Students (Visa Students)
  • Will accept Home/Host Pay
Canadian Students - learn more
  • Will accept Home/Host Pay

Tuition / Finances

Figures per Semester are current as of 05/08/25

Finances Tuition and Fees Per Semester - Host Payment Students
  • Pay resident-rate tuition to your host campus. No tuition/fees are paid to your home campus
  • Estimated cost: $5393.5.
  • Figures are based on full-time enrollment.
Tuition and Fees - Home Payment Students
  • Pay regular tuition to your home campus. No tuition/fees are paid to your host campus.
Maximum Credit Hours Per Semester
  • Host Payment: 18
  • Home Payment: 18

Financial Aid for NSE Students
Regardless of Payment Plan, financial aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Miscellaneous Fees - Per Semester

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
NSE Program Fee $50 Semester Host & Home Mandatory
Textbook Fee $259 Semester Host & Home Optional
Parking Fee $176 Year Host & Home Optional
Orientation Fee $45 Semester Host & Home Optional
International Student Health Insurance Fee $1025-1435 Semester Host & Home Mandatory
Course Fees / MaterialsVariesSemesterHost & HomeMandatory

Important Notes: HEALTH INSURANCE: All NSE students with non-U.S. Citizenship will be assessed student health insurance during Iowa State enrollment, regardless of NSE payment plan. You MAY be eligible for a waiver if your current institution insurance or Canadian health insurance covers required items. AY24-25 current cost for the fall term is $1025 and the spring term is $1435. More info at https://sship.hr.iastate.edu/undergraduategraduate-students. PARKING: Price for residence halls or commuter pass is shown. Cheaper option is available at the stadium lot. IMMEDIATE ACCESS: Iowa State offers online course materials for a flat fee through the Immediate Access program; all students are automatically enrolled in the program. If you prefer to purchase physical copies or want to opt-out, you will need to do so by the end of the first week of courses. More info at https://www.isubookstore.com/immediate-access-one-students.

Room / Meals

Figures are current as of 05/08/25

On-Campus Housing Per Semester Off-Campus Housing
  • Approximate monthly cost: $850.
  • Proximity to campus: .75 mile
  • Local Public Transportation Available to Campus
Notes About Housing
Generally, NSE students enjoy living in Fredericksen Court or a suite-style living arrangement. If you are looking for off-campus options and do NOT have a car, make sure to check the nearest CyRide bus stop.

Meal Plans

Notes About Meal Plans
Meal plans are required in residence halls EXCEPT Linden, Wallace, or Wilson; apartments/off-campus have optional meal plans. Plans consist of a combination of dining center meals and Dining Dollars. Meals can be used in all dining centers and in certain campus retail locations. Dining Dollars can be used in any ISU Dining Center location, including on-campus convenience store-type locations. Meal plans are listed here https://www.dining.iastate.edu/meal-plans/residence-halls/

Health

Figures per Semester are current as of 05/08/25

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
Health Insurance $1435 Semester Host & Home Optional

Important Notes about Health Insurance
All NSE students with non-U.S. Citizenship will be assessed student health insurance during Iowa State enrollment regardless of NSE payment plan. You MAY be eligible for a waiver if your current institution insurance or Canadian health insurance covers required items. The current cost for the fall term is $1025 and the spring/summer term is $1435. The highest cost per term is shown above; more info at https://sship.hr.iastate.edu/undergraduategraduate-students

Exchange with Canada - Health Insurance
Students must purchase campus health insurance at $1,435 per semester.

Requirements

All data in this document is the responsibility of the campus and has been provided by the campus NSE coordinator.
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