Main points: 40–45% of US masters students across ISU take out a loan in a given semester; By the end of two years, masters students who take out loans have ~$25,000 debt, 45% of US PhD students across ISU take out a loan in a given semester; By the end of five years, PhD students who take out loans have ~$32,000 debt; PhD, masters students on assistantships take out more loans.

The Graduate College at Iowa State University enrolls more than 4,500 graduate students every year. Graduate students at ISU pursue doctoral degrees in 82 subject areas, master degrees in 109 subject areas, and certificates in 36 fields. Graduate education at ISU is a vital component of the university and documenting our students’ contribution to scholarship is a way of enhancing the visibility of graduate students’ accomplishments.

This report presents findings from the 2011 Graduate Student Activity Survey, which describes the peer‐reviewed and non‐peer reviewed scholarly productivity, conference attendance and presentations, teaching, as well as outreach and extension service of Iowa State University’s graduate students. The information provided in the tables and graphs in this report give insight to the self‐reported data of ISU graduate students during the 2011 calendar year.