Iowa State University
- Campus Housing

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Iowa State University - Campus Housing - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Campus Housing

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 9,500
Average Housing Costs $3,882
Undergrads Living On Campus 39%
Number of Dormitories 14
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments 3
Best Dorms
  • Maple Hall
  • UDA Suites
Worst Dorms Towers

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The housing at ISU ranges from disgusting to posh, and the majority falls in the middle. Students seem generally satisfied. Even if the dorms are less than lush, students tend to make strong friendships and find places to party. Undeniably, dorm life is an important part of the freshman college experience. Most students enjoy it if they enjoy who they live around. Maple, Willow, Larch, and Friley receive positive recommendations, and the Union Drive suites are a good choice, though more expensive. Many students, especially girls, prefer coed dormitories, as female dorms can be less social. The Towers receive mixed ratings, being farther away from campus but offering socialization and parties.

Roommates can make or break even the best dorms, and how much you enjoy dorm life depends on the people instead of the dorms themselves. The dorms are not a terrible place to live. They aren’t exactly Hilton suites, but they are a far cry from prison cells. Until you get to know Iowa State and Ames, it is a good idea to live on campus. For upperclassman, Frederiksen Court offers University-owned apartments. Everyone should experience at least one year of dorm life—it’s part of the college experience.

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Iowa State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Housing at Iowa State University

LisaDB

Pharmacy Studies '14

2.3
C

More Expensive Closer to Campus

You can find apartments a little farther from campus (15 minute free bus ride) that are much cheaper and in better shape than apartments closer to campus. Dorms are relatively expensive considering you don't have much privacy. In comparison with apartment prices, they're about the same if not more expensive.

Feb 24, 2012

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Campus Housing at Iowa State University

joshuas2

Aerospace Engineering '15

4.2
A-

Campus Housing Review

The dorms I think are nice however since I am in one of the older buildings there has been issues with some of the maintenences. such as the old pipes that clank. overall it is nice and quiet here.

Feb 22, 2012

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Campus Housing at Iowa State University

hillarytc

Mathematics & Statistics '15

2.7
C+

The Dorms Are Not Desirable

The dorms serve their purpose, but there are so many freshman this year that we got stuck almost a mile and a half from campus. I hate having to share a tiny room and bathroom. We don't have a kitchen so we're forced to buy a meal plan or eat microwavable food everyday (or eat out). The cost is pretty expensive, but the furniture is very nice and all in all I'm happy I gained the experience of dorm life this year.

Feb 17, 2012

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User rating for Iowa State University - Campus Housing is 3.5 out of 5 based on 57 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Room Types
  • Doubles
  • Singles
  • Suites
Bed Types
  • Lofts
  • Standard twin
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Bookshelf
  • Cable TV jack
  • Chair
  • Closet or wardrobe
  • Coffee table (apartments)
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • End table (apartments)
  • Ethernet or broadband Internet connections
  • File caddy (apartments)
  • Free campus and local phone calls
  • Kitchen stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal (apartments)
  • Lamps (apartments)
  • Sofa (apartments)
  • Wardrobe (apartments)
  • Washer and dryer (apartments)
Also Available
  • Fresh Start – Fresh Start Residence Halls are specially designed to meet first-year students’ needs. These halls are for students who want to be actively involved in campus activities and in their education. Learning communities are set up to help students meet others in their area of study.
  • Learning communities, smoke-free, alcohol-free, coed or single-sex housing options

Available for Rent

Extra-long mattresses, some lofts

Cleaning Service

In public areas only

Did You Know? Friley Hall is one of the largest residence halls in the world, housing more than 1,200 students.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Barton Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Doubles, singles
Special Features: Cable, designated parking lots, fitness centers, handicap accessible accommodations, hall desks, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Birch-Welch-Roberts Halls
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 488
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: No, men only
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: super singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, handicap accessible accommodations, hall desks, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Buchanon Hall
Floors: 9
Number of Occupants: 412
Bathrooms: Semi-private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, double suites
Special Features: Air-conditioning, cable, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, transportation, vending.

Eaton Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 320
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Two-bedroom shared, four-bedroom singles, two-bedroom singles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, Fresh Start hall, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Freeman Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 115
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes, except Busse House (all male)
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Friley Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 1,200
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Super singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, Fresh Start hall, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, nine different learning communities, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Helser Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 600
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Air-conditioning, cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, Fresh Start hall, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Linden Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 310
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Super singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Lyon Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 110
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Super singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Maple Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 490
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Super singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, Fresh Start hall, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, sinks and mirrors in each room, study rooms, vending.

Martin Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 330
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Suites, super suites
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending, wood floors.

Oak-Elm Halls
Floors: 4 each
Number of Occupants: 435
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: No, women only
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Super singles, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Wallace Hall
Floors: 10
Number of Occupants: 300
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, super singles
Special Features: Cable, carpeted room, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Willow-Larch Halls
Floors: 8
Number of Occupants: 1,080
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen, sophomores
Room Types: Super single, doubles
Special Features: Cable, convenience stores, designated parking lots, fitness centers, hall desks, handicap accessible accommodations, house meeting rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, lounges, recycling program, study rooms, vending.

Campus-Owned ApartmentsWhat's This?

Frederiksen Court Apartments
Floors: 3 in each building
Number of Units: 100 students per building, 23 buildings grouped in clusters of three and four buildings
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Two-bedroom shared, four-bedroom singles, two-bedroom singles
Special Features: Amenities center, community center with Hawthorn Market & Café, fitness center, maintenance, on CyRide Cardinal route. Apartments are fully furnished with kitchen and washer and dryer. Billing is like residence halls, so students not responsible for their roommate’s rent.

Towers Neighborhood
Floors: 10 each
Number of Units: 300 each
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Two-bedroom suites
Special Features: Located just north of Campustown, Wallace, and Wilson are equipped with a community center, designated parking area, dining hall, fitness centers, laundry, study rooms, vending.

University Family Housing
Floors: 2
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: One- and two-bedrooms apartments
Special Features: Access to basement storage,bike paths, garden plots, soccer field, sand volleyball. On CyRide route.

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