A student writes on a colorful dry erase board A student works on a mechanical piece in a lab A group of three engineering students pose with smiles in the Sukup lobby Two students work on the space mining robot Two students study an optical in a lab

College of Engineering

Your path to an amazing engineering career begins here

A prestigious engineering program is nothing without passion – inspiring future engineering leaders, pursuing groundbreaking research, transforming technology to make a difference and creating solutions to make the world a better place.

Two students crouch with a remote control exploratory vehicle in a corn field
An engineering student works on equipment in the lab.

What can I study?

Iowa State engineering graduates are in high demand. With so many academic options, you can choose what inspires you most to help change the world.  

Majors, minors and certificates

Research

The College of Engineering is creating new solutions to society's challenges with work in six signature research areas – advanced materials and manufacturing, engineered medicine, engineering education, energy systems, resilient infrastructures, and secure cyberspace and autonomy.

Vaccine research dream team

A scientist looks closely at fluid samples in a lab
The research being conducted at the nationally recognized Nanovaccine Institute is having a huge impact on the world. This initiative is revolutionizing the prevention and treatment of diseases such as respiratory infections, tropical diseases, cancer, aging, and animal health.

Innovation and entrepreneurship

The College of Engineering is teaching and coaching students to work with customers and leverage new technology to engineer value-oriented marketplace solutions. 

Start Something in the College of Engineering

A student works on electrical components
Start Something Engineering provides a customer-focused approach to defining value in new product and process development. By engineering solutions which create real value in the minds of customers, Iowa State engineers will efficiently and effectively achieve success for their companies and themselves.

Opportunities

Engineering students benefit from more than 90 engineering student organizations, study abroad and international programs, engineering specific learning communities, hands-on real-life experiences, internships and co-ops, dedicated academic advisors and career services professionals, leadership opportunities and a collaborative environment dedicated to your success.

A passion for helping others

Mechanical engineering student Jillian Dunn applied engineering knowledge and her love of sports to develop prosthetics for amputee athletes during an internship with Amputee Blade Runners. 

Success at Iowa State

How will you choose to make the world better? Perhaps you will discover sustainable energy sources that won’t pollute the air. Make information more secure in our digital society. Create new transportation systems to safely move people. Design bio-ceramic bone implants to make lives better. Or improve processes in a company to help save time and money. Embrace your potential and discover what you have to offer the world.

Engineering career paths

  • Aerospace engineer

  • Agricultural engineer

  • Biological systems engineer

  • Chemical engineer

  • Civil engineer

  • Computer engineer

  • Construction engineer

  • Cyber security engineer

  • Electrical engineer

  • Environmental engineer

  • Industrial engineer

  • Materials engineer

  • Mechanical engineer

  • Software engineer

Featured story

Christopher Whitmer working on game-based STEM tools with children in a classroom

Engaging the next generation of scientists

Christopher Whitmer

Chief technology officer, Parametric Studio Inc.

I'm ready to apply

Fall view of Beardshear and Morrill Halls from central campus

I'm ready to accept

See all that Iowa State offers