Campus
Iowa State University, a public, broad-based international university of 27,000 students, was established in 1858 as one of the first U.S. land-grant colleges. It is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Every state and more than 100 foreign countries are represented in the student body, exposing students to ideas from other cultures both in and out of the classroom.

Iowa State has grown in size and reputation to become one of this nation's leading educational institutions and has made significant contributions to the development of the United States and the world. Revolutionary innovations include the world's first electronic digital computer; the digital encoding process that led to the development of facsimile machines, and LoSatSoy, a new cooking oil low in saturated fat. Iowa State's graduates include George Washington Carver, one of the nation's most distinguished educators and plant scientists; Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader in the women's suffrage movement; and John Vincent Atanasoff, who, as a faculty member at Iowa State, invented the electronic digital computer.

Living
Iowa State is located in Ames, just 30 minutes north of Iowa's capital, Des Moines. Ames, a great place to live, was recently ranked the second best micropolitan (population 50,000 or fewer) in the nation. Students take advantage of arts groups, recreational facilities, biking and hiking trails, more than 80 restaurants, a great downtown, many shopping areas, and a variety of movie theaters.

Approximately 9,000 students live on campus in 19 residence halls and 12 apartment style buildings. In addition, 34 fraternities and 20 sororities provide an attractive living option for approximately 3,000 undergraduates.

More than 500 clubs and organizations provide unlimited leadership, social, and cultural opportunities. Annually, 3,000 teams participate in 50 intramural sports, 2,500 persons participate in 40 sports clubs, and 20,000 students, staff, and faculty participates in outdoor recreation activities. The Cyclones boast 18 Division 1 intercollegiate sports and are members of the Big 12 Athletic Conference.

Outstanding facilities for the cultural and performing arts include the 2,700-seat Stephens Auditorium, the 452-seat Fisher Theater, and the 15,000-seat Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State attracts the top entertainment acts. Recent performers include Shermie Alexie, Matchbox 20, Simon Estes, Indigo Girls, Tina Turner, George Strait, Jars of Clay, Nikki Giovanni, Aerosmith, Tracy Chapman, Sarah McLachlan, and Harry Connick Jr.

Learning
Iowa State's most important purpose is to educate students. The academic program at Iowa State includes a vigorous liberal arts education and some of the world's leading research in the biological and physical sciences. Iowa State's nine colleges offer over 100 undergraduate majors and nearly 200 fields of study leading to graduate and professional degrees:

• College of Agriculture
• College of Business
• College of Design
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Family and Consumer Sciences
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• College of Veterinary Medicine