Internships are key component of summer session
July 24, 2025
Author: Jeff Budlong
Iowa State enrolled 7,128 students in summer session opportunities this year, nearly two-thirds (63%) of them at the undergraduate level. More than 3,000 students are taking part in an arranged experience -- ranging from internships to student teaching and research -- marking an increase over last summer. For the second consecutive summer, just under half (48%) of all summer students are enrolled in online classes only.
According to enrollment data collected (PDF) by the university registrar's office, the summer student body features:
- 4,487 undergraduates
- 2,484 graduate students
- 157 members of the fourth-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class beginning their 12-month finale
By the numbers
The 2025 summer count is 247 (3.4%) fewer students than last year. A year ago, summer classes saw a 12% decrease from the previous year (2023), and that decline was attributed, in part, to the winter session, which allows undergraduates to take an additional course at a different time of the year. This summer's student body has 179 fewer undergraduates and 71 fewer graduate students than a year ago. The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has three more students than last summer.
The College of Design, saw an increase of 15 students, to 209. Undergraduate enrollment in all other colleges decreased. At the graduate level, four colleges -- Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Engineering and Veterinary Medicine -- increased its summer enrollment from 2024.
Iowa State collects the student census on the 10th day (June 23) of the second summer session. The count reflects all registration through that day, so it includes classes that concluded prior to it as well as any that haven't begun yet.
Student enrollment: summer session
| College | Undergraduate | Graduate | Professional | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and Life Sciences | 512 | 423 | 0 | 935 |
| Business | 713 | 183 | 0 | 896 |
| Design | 209 | 40 | 0 | 249 |
| Engineering | 1,345 | 810 | 0 | 2,155 |
| Health and Human Sciences | 544 | 277 | 0 | 821 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 1,125 | 640 | 0 | 1,765 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 0 | 82 | 157 | 239 |
| Undeclared or non-degree | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Visiting students* | 39 | 20 | 0 | 59 |
| Total | 4,487 | 2,484 | 157 | 7,128 |
* Beginning Fall 2024, visiting students are defined as non-degree students attending Iowa State through exchange programs, high school programs or community college programs.
| Students | In-person or hybrid | Online only | Arranged experience* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 375 | 3,094 | 1,018 | 4,487 |
| Graduate | 83 | 324 | 2,077 | 2,484 |
| Year 4 DVM | 99 | 0 | 58 | 157 |
| Total | 557 | 3,418 | 3,153 | 7,128 |
*Includes:
- Experiential learning such as practicum, internship, student teaching or cooperative work
- Independent study and research
- Affiliate program: Courses in programs operated in conjunction with other universities or research laboratories at their sites, but ISU students register for credit through Iowa State