Iowa State University

Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Former names
Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (1858–1898)
Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (1898–1959)
Motto"Science with Practice"
TypePublic land-grant research university
EstablishedMarch 22, 1858 (March 22, 1858)
Parent institution
Iowa Board of Regents
AccreditationHLC
Academic affiliations
Endowment$1.88 billion (2023)
PresidentWendy Wintersteen
ProvostJason Keith
Academic staff
1,746 (2023)
Students30,432 (Fall 2024)
Undergraduates25,628 (Fall 2024)
Postgraduates4,170 (Fall 2024)
Other students
634 (Fall 2024)
Location, ,
United States

42°01′34″N 93°38′53″W / 42.0262°N 93.6480°W / 42.0262; -93.6480
CampusSmall city, 1,813 acres (7.34 km2)
NewspaperIowa State Daily
ColorsCardinal and gold
   
NicknameCyclones
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I FBSBig 12
MascotCy the Cardinal
Websiteiastate.edu

Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the nation's first designated land-grant institutions when the Iowa Legislature accepted the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act on September 11, 1862. On July 4, 1959, the college was officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology.

Iowa State is the second largest university in Iowa by total enrollment. The university's academic offerings are administered through eight colleges, including the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Engineering, the Graduate College, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Design, Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business, and the College of Health and Human Sciences. They offer more than 100 bachelor's degree programs, 120 master's degree programs, and 80 doctoral degree programs, plus a professional degree program in Veterinary Medicine.

Iowa State is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity." The university is affiliated with the Ames National Laboratory, the Biorenewables Research Laboratory, the Plant Sciences Institute, and various other research institutes. Iowa State University's athletic teams, the Cyclones, compete in Division I of the NCAA and are a founding member of the Big 12.