Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Software Engineers For Applications
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Des Moines Area Community College, Kirkwood Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College District, and Iowa State.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Iowa State, Northern Iowa, and Mount Mercy College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Drake, Western Iowa Tech Community College, and Grinnell.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Mount Mercy College and Saint Ambrose University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Grinnell, Cornell, Drake, and Luther.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Loras, Central College, Cornell, and Grinnell.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Grinnell, Cornell, Iowa State, and Coe College.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Grinnell, Cornell, and Maharishi.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Grinnell, Loras, Cornell, and Clarke.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight Iowa Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Des Moines
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Diploma
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Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate
Colorado Technical University Online
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Master
International Academy of Design & Technology Online
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Coursework, Diploma
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Iowa State University • Ames, IA
Studying Advertising, Art & Design (completion in 2005)
• 8/17/2011
"I enjoyed my experience and feel like it adequately prepared me. I would have liked to have been challenged a little more or seen some different opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a solid school with good midwestern values, while offering an international cultural experience. I enjoyed my time and got the basic education I wanted. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | For the design program, the school has a good reputation. For the advertising program, I don't know that the school has much recognition. |
| Program Quality | 6 | My institution is fairly average, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The preparation and knowledge transfer prepares you, but it doesn't necessarily challenge you. |
| Instruction | 7 | I had good professors that taught relevant material. It prepared me adequately for what I am doing now. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I didn't feel incredibly challenged by what I was doing. But, I did have the freedom to express creativity and choose my own academic path. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My programs were incredibly hands-on, just by their nature. However, there was also a good balance of the necessary foundational knowledge. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The summer offerings were great, and depending on the course there were multiple sessions available. As far as I know, there was not much offered on evenings and weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The facilities were great and the professors all seemed to make themselves available as needed. Near the end of my education I was practically living in the facilities getting work finished. |
| Social Life | 7 | Those opportunities are there for whoever wants to get involved and how deeply they choose to be involved. I personally wasn't too interested in school spirit and social interaction. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I didn't utilize the career services. It seemed poorly promoted and even somewhat mysterious. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | It seems good, though I don't engage with it often. I get regular emails and newsletters regarding what is currently happening with the university and the programs I was involved in. |
Iowa State University • Ames, IA
Studying Systems Engineering (completion in 2007)
• 11/20/2011
"The school was accommodating to students. The school was a bit loose with academic requirements."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Overall, the experience was positive. The degree has been valuable in my professional career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Iowa State has one of very few Systems Engineering curricula in the US. The requirements for the degree are very loose. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was able to take courses that matched my interests. The program was flexible enough to allow me to complete my degree while working full-time. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were understanding of remote students. The instructors had a good deal of real-world experience to share with students. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Essential courses did not seem to be on Master's level. Elective courses were plentiful enough to be interesting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Sufficient hands-on learning was available through lab activities. Book learning was a bit over emphasized. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Classes were available in real-time or via internet video delay. Exams were administered offsite, according to students' schedules. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Offsite support for remote students was sufficient. University representatives were available to assist remote students with their unique needs. |
| Social Life | 1 | As a remote student, I did not participate in athletics or social events. Onsite students had significantly more social opportunities. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I did not receive any advisement toward job placement. The university was fully cooperative with my current employer in employer-supported education. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Alumni networks are available to those who are interested. I have not been actively recruited to join alumni organizations. |
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