Bring it or buy it there?
At Iowa State University, the bike is the daily vehicle — close enough to town that riding beats parking, far enough that walking gets old. If you already have a bike you like and it's in good shape, bringing it is usually worth it — you know it fits and you trust it. If you don't, buy after you arrive, not before: a local shop will size you properly and do the first tune-up, and a campus or town bike co-op (most college towns have one) is the cheap, friendly way to find a sound used bike and learn basic repairs. Skip the big-box "bike-shaped object" — it costs more in repairs and frustration than a decent used bike.
The ground is flat, which is the cheapest advantage there is: a simple, sturdy bike is genuinely enough here.
The theft reality — lock like it matters
A campus this size is exactly where bike theft is a routine business: thousands of bikes, packed racks, and a schedule a thief can set a watch by. This is not where you save money. In a city this size, lock it properly even for the ten-minute stop — that's the theft, every time. Get a hardened U-lock, always lock the frame and rear wheel to a fixed rack, account for quick-release wheels and your saddle, and register your serial number with campus security or a national registry. A good lock used well is the single biggest thing between you and a bad week.
The distance where a bike simply wins
This is the range a bike beats everything else: quicker than waiting for a bus, no parking to find, and short enough that weather is rarely the deciding factor. Fenders and a rack turn it from a fair-weather habit into your actual transport, and lights make the dark half of the year a non-issue.
A note for parents
The most useful send-off isn't the flashiest bike — it's the boring kit that keeps a student riding safely all year: a serious lock, lights that stay charged, fenders for the wet months, and a rack so they'll actually carry books and groceries. On a campus this size, the lock is the line item worth arguing about. Run the Assessment together in Ames and it'll turn your student's real situation into a short kit list — and flag the one item worth spending real money on.