Vital Statistics

Vital Statistics

Engineering was one of the first programs offered at Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University) when the university was established in 1858. The first students that arrived in 1869 studied agriculture and mechanics. Soon after, several branches of engineering developed out of the mechanics course. When the first class graduated in 1872, six of the 26 graduated with engineering degrees, four civil and two mechanical. By 1914, Iowa State had organized departments of agricultural, architectural, ceramic, and chemical engineering. Today, with 8 engineering departments, 12 undergraduate majors, and over 4,600 undergraduate students, Iowa State continues to be a leader in engineering.

Quick Facts

Rankings

Degree Programs

Enrollment

Degrees Awarded

Careers

Faculty

• Undergraduate engineering program is one of the 10 largest in the United States
• 227 tenured and tenure-track faculty, with 22 endowed chairs and professorships and 15 Distinguished and University Professors
• 28 NSF Presidential/New Young Investigator and CAREER Awards
• 2 TR-100 Awards, awarded by MIT’s Technology Review magazine to the Top 100 Young Innovators of the world
• 16 R&D 100 Awards
• 3 members of the National Academy of Engineering
• $68+ million in research expenditures during 2007–08
• 60+ research centers and institutes
• 1,012 graduate students, 51% of whom are working on doctoral degrees
• 76 PhD and 164 MS degrees awarded in 2007–08
• 160+ graduate alumni of the college are presidents or CEOs of companies and leaders in academia
• 85% of all full-time, first-year engineering students are members of learning communities
  

According to the Washington Monthly college rankings, Iowa State University ranks 32 out of 258 national universities. In U.S.News and World Report, the university ranks within the top 25% of public universities in the nation. The College of Engineering graduate program is ranked 42nd among all American universities and 24th among public schools, and the undergraduate program is tied for 23 with Arizona State University, Tempe, among public universities' engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate. Overall, Iowa State's engineering program ranks 38.

See our rankings.

The college has 12 bachelor's programs:

• Aerospace
• Agricultural
• Biological Systems
  
• Chemical
• Civil
• Computer
• Construction
• Electrical
• Industrial
• Materials
• Mechanical
• Software

There are 20 master's and 17 doctoral programs offered by the college.

Fall 2008 enrollment:

• 4,676 undergraduate
• 1,012 graduate
• Increase of 132 students (76 undergraduate, 56 graduate)

Fall 2007 enrollment:

• 4,600 undergraduate
• 956 graduate
• Increase of 255 students (155 undergraduate, 100 graduate)

Degrees awarded during the fall 2007–spring 2008 academic year:

• 846 bachelor's degrees
• 164 master's degrees
• 76 doctorates

The Engineering Career Services (ECS) office provides statistics for employers about undergraduate enrollment by major, salary and placement, and minority/female enrollment. ECS also hosts the largest indoor career fair in the country.

In-Profession Outcomes (employed, graduate/professional school, military appointment related to engineering degree)

BS graduates six months post graduation: 97%

MS graduates six months post graduation: 98%

PhD graduates six months post graduation: 96%

Career Fairs

Fall 2009

• More than 4,000 students in attendance
  
• More than 800 recruiters (~400 alums)
• More than 225 employers
  

Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty: 227
Full Professors: 100
Associate Professors: 68
Assistant Professors: 59