Iowa State University Reviews

"Do not go here. The professors and dean only care about each classes top student and how that student can be exploited to further the professor’s research or program reputation. They do not care about your future and they certainly do not care about your well being. One time a professor didn’t come to class for two days and instead had the class drive to another town and collect data for one of the professors other classes. This data had nothing to do with what we were suppose to be learning or working on. We’ve also been told multiple times that we’re expected to pull all nighters regularly wich is detrimental to short term and long term health and abiliest against people with mental health issues.Read Less"

"I cannot recommend Iowa State enough. As an out of state student I was embraced and welcomed within the student community and also by faculty and staff. My classes were challenging but necessary in my pursuit of an advanced degree. I am now a proud alumni and have taken advantage of the extensive alumni network of cyclone grads."

"I cannot recommend Iowa State enough. As an out of state student I was embraced and welcomed within the student community and also by faculty and staff. My classes were challenging but necessary in my pursuit of an advanced degree. I am now a proud alumni and have taken advantage of the extensive alumni network of cyclone grads."

"This university has a very beautiful campus and is known for strong programs in agriculture and business. However, it is also true that the atmosphere is designed to benefit local students over internationals. The location is remote, which makes travel quite cumbersome for international travelers. Also, international students are charged way more than locals and it is not guaranteed that your chosen program holds value for money. As an international student, be prepared to deal with racial micro-aggression and sometimes straight-out aggression, even from professors. The quality of courses are highly dependent on the quality of professors, so some courses were excellent while others were a waste of time and money. With regard to university accommodation, there are a wide range of housing options depending on how much one is willing to pay. The only trouble is towards the end of the year when you have to clear out your things out of the apartment. No provisions /facilities are given to internationals to store their furniture/personal items over the summer, while locals have the option of taking their things home. Moving facilities are scarce and very expensive. This was one of the most stressful aspects of living in Ames, at the end of the academic year when I had to make international trips back home and had no place to store my things over the summer. I solved the problem by renting my place for the entire summer, or by asking friends to store my things for me. Overall, I would not recommend this university for international students, due to expensive and cumbersome travel, remote location, racial microaggression/aggression and lack of benefits for international students in terms of your future after college. International students, DO NOT choose this university unless your program of interest has enough good ratings to be considered value for money.Read Less"

"Iowa State University has an outstanding, well-established "STEM" curriculum. Majority of my classes were in large lecture halls; however, don't be deferred. I felt like every professor I had over the course of four years cared about my achievements and overall well-being. When I was falling behind in my courses, the university offered tutoring service. The tutors were very resourceful and I could tell very knowledgeable on the subject.Additionally, my academic advisor was very helpful when it came to career-orientated discussions and financial situations. He not only listened to my concerns but spent time brainstorming potential solutions. Outside of schoolwork, Iowa State offers diverse student groups. You would see student government participants handing out apples, nature focused groups laying in hammocks, language clubs vocalizing an event to test out foreign foods, and sororities raising funds for their designated organization just walking to the library.Read Less"

"Iowa State University is a college which has a beautiful campus, caring staff and faculty, and a financial aid department which excels in helping each student individually, making sure that each student is aware of how they can afford college and the importance of financial literacy and budgeting. Not only are these aspects phenomenal, but the Psychology department in general is a great resource for students who are interested in learning more about the mind, how the environment affects people, and about different disorders or syndromes. Each professor in the Psychology department is extremely caring and willing to meet one-on-one with students in order to better their education. They not only have office hours but the professors will work with students to create additional appointments if need be, while some professors will stay late at night to work with students who otherwise would not have time to meet with the professors. The classes are also extremely interesting and the professors know their material more than anyone else. Iowa State University has some of the best faculty you can find in the Psychology area and you can tell they are passionate about everything they teach - which really helps students learn better.Read Less"

"Iowa State University was a great fit for my Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science. The available resources are endless. Although it does focus on livestock species, equine, and companion animal... the science is relevant to any species. The professors are so kind, caring and smart. They are all well known in the Animal Science industry and also serve as the advisors, which is great to have over professional advisor as they are able to relate directly to our studies."

"Great school, beautiful campus with a lot to do around the school and on the school campus. Top notch education where the professors help you out as much as hey can, as long as you go and see them."

"I loved ISU. Beautiful campus. We had a very nice campus community and a great focus on academics."

"I had a great experience at Iowa State. The professors were always open to helping to position myself to be successful. I believe the program prepared me to excel on the CPA exam."

"Iowa State University is a great college with a wide range of diverse majors and minors. The faculty is knowledgeable and friendly and will take the time to help students one-on-one. The campus is beautiful and has several dorms, gyms, dining centers. I loved attending Iowa State and don't regret any part of my education there."

"Really wonderful and nice campus in a diverse town that has the small town charm, but many large town amenities. Employees, staff, and professors are great and supportive utilizing a state of the art facility to help teach the art and science of Veterinary Medicine in the Doctorate program. Not a day goes by that I don't feel I didn't make the right choice to be a part of this DVM program."

"This school was so amazing. I will never forget the positive impact it left on me. My favorite part about being a Cyclone was the community that I became a part of. I am so thankful to have this experience. The connections I made at this school will last me a life time."

"Iowa State University offered me opportunities to grow, chances to succeed, and the proper challenges that needed to be faced in order to develop further as person. The environment that is created on Iowa State's is truly one of community. The people that you surround yourself by want you to succeed. My connections with professors in the classroom were beneficial to me and introduced me to networking and professional opportunities. For me, the experiences outside of the classroom provided me with the most satisfaction. The opportunities to become involved are endless on campus, and these are the places where students grow the most. I was introduced to wonderful mentors. These mentors were my support system throughout my college years. I loved my time at Iowa State, I only wish that I could have had more of it. I am truly thankful to forever be a Cyclone!Read Less"

"I really loved Iowa State University and all that it had to offer. The community and campus is awesome and I definitely grew as a person while I attended school at ISU. I pursued Kinesiology with the intention of going to a Physician Assistant school. They offered many different types of science classes and lab experiences that furthered my education and ability to work in the healthcare setting."

"I had an excellent experience at Iowa state. the education I received was both challenging and applicable to my career. The instructors were both well informed and approachable. In addition, they were well practiced professionals. This really helped prepare me for the rigors of the profession. The university experience was also good for me. I never felt that Iowa State was too big for me, as a student. The University did a good job of break down the Student body into small groups in the dorms as well as in your classwork so as not to make you feel one of a mass of students. The opportunities to participate and volunteer on campus also helped me to learn many life skills that I have used both in my personal life and professional career. I think ISU was the perfect fit for me.Read Less"

"The program did a great job of giving me a strong background in the classes I needed to feel prepared for entry into professional school. In addition to being prepared for Med/Vet/Dentistry School, it also prepared classmates for jobs in industry or teaching at the university level. The coursework transitioned students well from undergraduate studies to masters level courses and we were allowed to give insight to the professors on the sorts of material we wanted to learn about to be successful later on in our academic careers. We were given hands on dissection opportunities that allowed us to see up close anatomy and understand the physiology of the body as well. The professors were available to help us make the transition to our studies as well. The small class size in the program made it possible to really network with other people in the field and form study groups with like minded individuals. The research project that we conducted in the second semester of the program really allowed us an opportunity to put what we had learned in the program to work in making a project that would help set us apart later on in our academic or professional careers. Talking about my research project with others really gave me a great in when networking later on.Read Less"

"When I received my Masters degree in Architecture the program was still in the Department of Engineering and the studios were in the attic of the Engineering Annex behind Marston Hall. I feel that the program gave me a sound basis for my career. The instructors had a wide range of experience and challenged us to do our best."

"I greatly enjoyed my studies at ISU. There was a great culture in studio which drove all of us to do our best work. I've carried many friendships created at ISU into my career, and enjoy using my degree to give back to the University. A great experience and a good value."

"The College of Design is a great choice for anyone that is creative and wants to help solve wicked problems. The instructions all know what they are talking about and really are focused on getting you the best education available. The other great thing about the college of design in that most instructions have ties to some professional practice and have great networks, which shows with a 98% job placement rate."