Iowa State University is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa. It is best known for engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine and design, and for one of the lowest non-resident tuition rates among major US research universities. Choose it for a strong engineering degree at low cost in a safe college town.
Ames, United States
Official website: iastate.edu
#470
Top 3 in the US (U.S. News)
Member
Regularly named one of the 25 most attractive campuses in the US
$24,000 – $28,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on iastate.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 79
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 79
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
21 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 79
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Aerospace Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 71
College of Engineering — one of the largest in the US, with top-ranked agricultural engineering.
The first electronic digital computer was built here in the late 1930s.
Among the lowest non-resident tuition of any AAU research university.
Central campus — a lawn of oaks and lakes ranked among the most attractive in the US.
Graduates join John Deere, Collins Aerospace, Principal Financial, Caterpillar and Midwest engineering firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 70,000-80,000.
Around 95% of graduates are employed or in further study within six months.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,800-acre campus surrounds a central lawn of old oaks and Lake LaVerne, with the engineering complex, residence halls and Jack Trice Stadium all reachable by the free CyRide bus.
Ames is a safe college town of about 66,000 people with low rent and a strong campus community. Des Moines, the state capital, is 35 minutes away.
Form I-20 issued by Iowa State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 November 2026 priority date for fall 2027 that gives the best chance at merit scholarships; applications stay open into summer. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computer science master's closing between December and February.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August) or spring (January). Most engineering, computer science and information systems master's programmes also admit for spring, while business analytics is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Students and Scholars Office issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, business analytics and information systems attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for the International Merit Scholarship, worth up to around USD 10,000 a year based on their grades, if they apply by the priority date. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are widely available in engineering and agriculture.
