A quiet thread of global connection runs through the Iowa State University campus — one that stretches across oceans and continents, held together by thousands of alumni who once called Ames home.

According to the most recent data from the ISU Foundation, there are currently 8,941 living Iowa State alumni residing outside the United States. These former students span 147 countries, reflecting a long-standing tradition of global education and exchange at the university.

The largest communities of international alumni come from Asia, with China (739), India (392), Malaysia (1,074), South Korea (571) and Iran (43) among the most represented. Many of these students return home after graduation, where they continue to carry Iowa State’s legacy into industries, research, and communities around the world.

“Within the past ten years, Iowa State has seen international students from more than 100 countries graduate,” said Elliot Uhl, interim director of the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). “The top five countries with the most international graduates during that time are China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, and Iran. ISSO is always excited to connect with international students that have graduated to learn about the great things that they are doing, and they can also connect with the Iowa State University Alumni Center to stay engaged with the university.”

Iowa State’s international alumni network reflects the university’s continued emphasis on global engagement. The presence of graduates across 147 countries highlights the reach of its academic programs and the long-term relationships sustained through institutional support and alumni connections.

Even after leaving Iowa’s snowy fields, these alumni remain part of a constellation — distant but still tethered to the university that helped shape them.