Iowa State University
Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

(ISU)

🇺🇸 United States / Iowa / Ames
Public AAU Land Grant R1 Est. 1858

About

Iowa State University of Science and Technology 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 offic...

Iowa State University of Science and Technology 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.

Ranking Overview

Ranking Snapshot

Ranked Top 380 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems

US News #380 (2026)
THE #401–500 (2026)

Ranked in 82 subject rankings

QS QS World University Rankings
# 449
75
34.4
2026
THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings
# 401–500
46.2
2026
ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities
# 401-500
100
2025
US News U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
# =380
36
56.0
2026

Key Facts

Students
27,116
Student-Staff Ratio
17.2 : 1
Int'l Students
8%
Female : Male
46 : 54
Staff
6,753

Historical Trend

Longitudinal View
QS QS
THE THE
ARWU ARWU
US News US News
1 101 201 301 401 501 600 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Rank
:
Score:

Top Subjects

Best-performing areas
7
Agriculture & Forestry
Top 10
10
Veterinary Science
Top 10
45
Law & Legal Studies
Top 50
47
Agricultural Sciences
Top 50
=51
Plant and Animal Science
Top 100
51-75
Aerospace Engineering
Top 100
51-75
Agricultural Sciences
Top 100
51-75
Statistics & Operational Research
Top 100
51-75
Communication & Media Studies
Top 100
51-75
Hospitality & Tourism Management
Top 100
101-150
Ecology
Top 200
101-150
Remote Sensing
Top 200
101-150
Metallurgical Engineering
Top 200
101-150
Sociology
Top 200
101-150

Subject Rankings

Detailed breakdown

QS

31 subjects

ARWU

41 subjects

US News

26 subjects

THE

9 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Computer Science 201–250 47.1 2026
Education & Training 201–250 43.1 2026
Psychology 201–250 45.3 2026
Life Sciences 251–300 47.1 2026
Engineering & Technology 301–400 41.5 2026
Physical Sciences 301–400 43.0 2026
Social Sciences 301–400 37.8 2026
Business & Economics 301–400 39.5 2026
Arts & Humanities 401–500 27.4 2026
Want to apply to this university? Talk to AI Advisor

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ranking of Iowa State University?

Iowa State University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 449, THE Rank 401–500, ARWU Rank 401-500, US News Rank =380.

When was Iowa State University founded?

Iowa State University was founded in 1858.

What are the top subjects at Iowa State University?

Top subjects at Iowa State University include: Agriculture & Forestry, Veterinary Science, Law & Legal Studies, Agricultural Sciences, Plant and Animal Science.

Where is Iowa State University located?

Iowa State University is located in Ames, United States.