Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa. The college town hosts a diverse population of students from all 50 states and more than 100 different countries. Students at Iowa State University can choose from over 100 majors. The university is home to Nobel Prize winners and more than 800 student organizations. This provides an on-campus experience that produces well-rounded and successful students.

Iowa State University Accreditation Details

Iowa State University has been awarded accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission.

Iowa State University Application Requirements

Students who wish to enter an undergraduate program at Iowa State University must submit an application. Alongside their application, students must also submit their transcripts and standardized test scores.

Students are admitted to Iowa State University based on the Regent Admission Index score. This score is a mathematical formula that takes several factors into account. The score takes the following numbers into account:

• Percentile Class Rank x 1
• ACT score x 3
• GPA x 20
• Number of years of high school core courses x5

Students who have achieved a score of 245 and meet the minimum requirements are usually offered admission to Iowa State University. Students who have not met the minimum score will have their individual cases reviewed by the admissions board.

Applicants who are interested in joining a graduate program at Iowa State University are required to submit an online application to the school. Along with their application, students must also submit three letters of recommendation. Many programs and departments have individual requirements regarding the admission of graduate students. Students should always check with their intended department of entry to ensure that they fulfill all of the application requirements.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students who are completing an undergraduate degree are estimated to pay $16,840 per academic year if they are residents of the state of Iowa. This figure includes tuition, fees, room and board as well as supplies and books for classes. The total expected cost of attendance each year is figured to be $19,270.

Students who are completing an undergraduate degree are estimated to pay $29,960 per academic year if they are not residents of the state of Iowa. This figure includes all the required tuition and fees as well as on-campus housing and meal plans. The university figures that personal expenses would amount $2,430 per year. This brings the total expected cost per year to $31,470.

Graduate students who are resident of the state of Iowa can expect to pay $21,470 in university expenses and personal costs for each year that they are enrolled at the university. Graduate students who are not residents of the state of Iowa can expect to pay $33,380 in expenses.
Iowa State University accepts the following forms of payment and financial aid:

• FAFSA
• Federal Work Study
• Scholarships
• Grants
• Private Loans

Online Degrees Available

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

A degree in Computer Science from Iowa State University is designed to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to have successful careers in the field. Students who complete this degree will be able to enter a variety of fields including business, government or industry. This degree also prepares students for further research in the field of Computer Science. The program’s main goal is for students to be able to demonstrate the skills they have learned within five years of their graduation. Students do not need to enter the degree with a background in programming. The degree structure is inclusive and is suitable for those with little to no computer science experience.
Students who graduate from this program are taught to be able to establish themselves as experts in the field. This demonstration should come from both formulating and solving problems as well as by creating new fields of value in technology. Students should be able to use both mathematics and computer science to demonstrate their expertise.
Students should also demonstrate their ability to engage with the material. This engagement should be demonstrated through many sectors.

Students will be provided with a strong foundation in education and learning. This will enable them to continue down the path of self-improvement and self-study so that they can keep up with the evolving world of technology.

Before embarking on this course, students must fulfill the pre-requisite requirements set by Iowa State University. These requirements include both a course in computer science and mathematics and must be completed with a grade of at least a C-.

After completing these prerequisite courses, students will then begin to take the following required courses:

• Orientation
• Careers in Computer Science
• Introduction to Object-oriented Programming
• Introduction to Data Structures
• Digital Logic
• Software Development Practices
• Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• Introduction to Computer Architecture and Machine-Level Programming
• Advanced Programming Techniques
• Discrete Computational Structures
• Theory of Computing
• Principles of Programming Languages
• Introduction to Operating Systems
• Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
• Introduction to Database Management Systems

Finally, students will be able to choose from the following electives. Students must choose at least six credits from these list of electives. Students must take at least three of these credits from group one. The remaining credits may be chosen from groups one or two.

Group One Courses:
• Projects in Computing Applications
• Computer Science Senior Project
• Software Requirements Engineering
• Software Testing
• High-Performance Computing for Scientific and Engineering Applications
• Advanced Programming Tools
• Computer Game and Media Programming
• Simulation: Algorithms and Implementation
• Principles and Internals of Database Systems
• Principles of Artificial Intelligence
• Introduction to Machine Learning
• Network Programming, Applications and Research Issues
• Software Evolution and Maintenance

Group Two Courses:
• Formal Methods in Software Engineering
• Introduction to Computational Geometry
• Introduction to Parallel Algorithms and Programming
• Principles and Practice of Compiling
• Introduction to Bioinformatics
• Distributed Systems
• Problem Solving Techniques for Applied Computer Science
• Fundamental Concepts in Computer Networking
• Numerical Methods for Differential Equations
• Basics of Information System Security
• Real-Time Systems
• Computer Networking and Data Communications

In addition to the credits required to complete the major, students must also satisfy the requirements of a liberal arts and science degree. Students will be taking courses throughout mathematics and science. They will also be required to take courses that satisfy communications proficiency credits.

Iowa State University provides a liberal arts education that is dedicated to giving Computer Science students the tools they need to set themselves apart in the workforce.

Another helpful resource:

The 30 Most Affordable Women’s Colleges in the U.S. 2015