Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.

SCORE

GRADE

FIX

REVIEW

PASS

INFO

Checks

7 PASS 4 REVIEW 2 FIX

Dark Mode Support

Action

No dark mode signals

FIX

No dark mode signals

No dark mode signals detected

Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles

External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.

Dark ModeNo Dark Mode Detected

color-scheme meta Not set ✗Dark theme-color Not set ✗CSS indicators Not detected ✗

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

Link & Button Quality

3 issue(s) across 130 links and 18 buttons

REVIEW

3 issue(s) across 130 links and 18 buttons

3 link(s) with generic text

Generic link text like 'click here' doesn't describe the destination.

Got: https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/value-physical-intelligence-how-researchers… ("Read more"); https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/vision-driving-entrepreneurial-ecosystem ("Read more"); https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2025/undergraduate-researcher-gets-hands-lo… ("Read more")

5 link(s) open in new tab without warning

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

Got: https://instagram.com/iowastateadmissions; https://youtube.com/isuadmissions; https://facebook.com/iowastateadmissions; https://twitter.com/IowaStateU; https://www.foundation.iastate.edu/s/give

122 link(s) with descriptive text

130 links

0 empty

3 generic text

5 new tab

0 empty buttons

Element	Text	Issue	Suggested Fix
https://instagram.com/iowastateadmission…	Instagram	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://youtube.com/isuadmissions	YouTube	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://facebook.com/iowastateadmissions	Facebook	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://twitter.com/IowaStateU	X-Twitter	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.foundation.iastate.edu/s/giv…	Give	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/value-…	Read more	generic text	Replace with descriptive text
Before: Read more Suggested: Value Physical Intelligence How Researchers Are Working Safely Advance Capabilities Humanoid
https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/vision…	Read more	generic text	Replace with descriptive text
Before: Read more Suggested: Vision Driving Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2025/u…	Read more	generic text	Replace with descriptive text
Before: Read more Suggested: Undergraduate Researcher Gets Hands Look Limitless Possibilities Genetics

140 links and buttons have descriptive text

Generic link text like 'click here' doesn't describe the destination.

https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/value-physical-intelligence-how-researchers… ("Read more"); https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/vision-driving-entrepreneurial-ecosystem ("Read more"); https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2025/undergraduate-researcher-gets-hands-lo… ("Read more")

Why this matters

Generic anchor text ('click here', 'read more', 'learn more') tells screen readers and search engines nothing about the destination.

Learn more ▾

Out-of-context lists of links read by AT (one navigation pattern) become useless when every link says 'click here'. Use the destination's title or topic as anchor text. Doubles as SEO win — Google passes anchor-text relevance to the destination.

Source: WCAG 2.4.4 / Google Search Central

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

https://instagram.com/iowastateadmissions; https://youtube.com/isuadmissions; https://facebook.com/iowastateadmissions; https://twitter.com/IowaStateU; https://www.foundation.iastate.edu/s/give

Why this matters

Links with target="_blank" without rel="noopener" leak the originating page's window context — security and UX issue.

Learn more ▾

Without rel="noopener", the new tab can navigate the original tab via window.opener (tab-nabbing attack). Modern browsers default to noopener for target=_blank but only since recent versions. Always set rel="noopener noreferrer" explicitly.

Source: MDN target / OWASP

404 Error Page

HTTP 404, custom page

REVIEW

HTTP 404, custom page

Correct 404 status code returned

Got: HTTP 404

Custom styled 404 page

Navigation links present on 404 page

Search form present on 404 page

404 Page Quality ✓ Custom 404 Page

Status Code HTTP 404 ✓Page Title 404 - Iowa State University ✓Custom Styling ✓Navigation ✓Homepage Link ✗Search Form ✓

Favicon & Branding

5 icon(s) detected

REVIEW

5 icon(s) detected

No favicon.ico at site root

Some older browsers, bookmark tools, and RSS readers look for /favicon.ico. Add one as a fallback.

HTML icon links detected

Apple touch icon present

SVG favicon detected — scales perfectly to any size

Multiple icon sizes detected

✗ favicon.ico Missing

✓ PNG Icons Present

✓ Apple Touch Present

✓ SVG Favicon Present

✓ Manifest Icons Present

✓ Multiple Sizes Present

Web Manifest

Action

Valid manifest

REVIEW

Valid manifest

Name present: Iowa State

192x192 icon present

512x512 icon present

PWA Install Criteria Not Installable

Name Iowa State ✓192×192 icon ✓512×512 icon ✓Start URL ✗Display Mode ✗

Name Iowa State Icons 2 icon(s)

A+

Landmark Structure

10 landmarks

PASS

10 landmarks

<main> landmark present

7 <nav> landmark(s) found

All <nav> elements are properly labeled

Skip navigation link present

Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it

A+

Heading Hierarchy

28 headings

PASS

28 headings

Single H1 present

H1 You’re a Cyclone in the Making
H2 The Iowa State University Community
H3 You Belong Here
H2 Unearth your full potential in a learning community
H3 95%
H2 You’ve just got to take the leap ... whatever it is you’re doing. Just start. That’s it.
H2 Turn your passion into a profession
H3 Explore programs by college
H2 Let your imagination spark innovation
H2 Students gain experience with hands-on robotics research
H2 An award-winning entrepreneurial ecosystem
H2 Undergraduate researcher gets hands-on look at ‘limitless possibilities’ of genetics
H2 What we’re up to now
H2 Experience Iowa State
H2 Transfer student visit day
H2 Experience Iowa State
H2 Student startup business sparked by graphic design course
H2 Studio class partners with city to plan and design park and rec spaces
H2 Iowa State among Princeton Review's top 10 undergrad entrepreneurship schools
H2 Cyclones on social
H2 Start Your Future at Iowa State
H3 Resources for future students
H3 Questions?
H2 Take the Next Step
H2 Quick Links
H2 Students gain experience with hands-on robotics research
H2 An award-winning entrepreneurial ecosystem
H2 Undergraduate researcher gets hands-on look at ‘limitless possibilities’ of genetics

A+

Alt Text Quality

All 27 images OK

PASS

All 27 images OK

1 decorative image(s) correctly marked

26 image(s) with good alt text

27 images 26 good alt text 1 decorative

All images have appropriate alt text.

A+

Form Accessibility

No form controls

PASS

No form controls

No form controls on this page

No form controls found.

A+

Print Stylesheet

Print styles detected

PASS

Print styles detected

External print stylesheet detected

Got: /files/css/css_g1TdEWLy4ks3_5r9syeO2nL9UqrdhwOggtMCWGjEaWA.css?delta=4&language=en&theme=iastate2022wd&include=eJxlitsKgCAMQH8oMvwhmW7EaDloE_HvI-jy0OO5MJiDU1xiDKtoBpn4Ux1f6dYxlY2QXY_AFal6Fi3bL104P3hXgaHNU24sSPeTjIqz1smGOe0hg9EJHqA3PA

Print Stylesheet ✓ Print Optimized

Print stylesheet /files/css/css_g1TdEWLy4ks3_5r9syeO2nL9UqrdhwOggtMCWGjEaWA.css?delta=4&language=en&theme=iastate2022wd&include=eJxlitsKgCAMQH8oMvwhmW7EaDloE_HvI-jy0OO5MJiDU1xiDKtoBpn4Ux1f6dYxlY2QXY_AFal6Fi3bL104P3hXgaHNU24sSPeTjIqz1smGOe0hg9EJHqA3PA ✓Inline @media print Not detected ✗

A+

Color Contrast (Screenshot)

20 text elements analyzed, 0 fail WCAG AA

PASS

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

20 pass

Show all checked elements (20)

Element	Ratio	Required	FG	BG	Result
h1 You’re a	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h1 in the	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 The Iowa State Unive…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Unearth your full po…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 You’ve just got to…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Turn your passion in…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Let your imagination…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Students gain experi…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 An award-winning ent…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Undergraduate resear…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 What we’re up to n…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Cyclones on social	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Start Your Future at…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Take the Next Step	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Quick Links	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Students gain experi…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 An award-winning ent…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h2 Undergraduate resear…	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h3 You Belong Here	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass
h3 95%	21.00:1	3.0:1	#000000	#FFFFFF	Pass

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

A+

Lighthouse Accessibility Audits

Score 100/100 — 0 failing, 26 passed

PASS

100

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

○Interactive controls are keyboard focusable

○Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state

○The page has a logical tab order

○Visual order on the page follows DOM order

○User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region

○The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page

○HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation

○Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology

○Custom controls have associated labels

○Custom controls have ARIA roles

●`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`

●`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes

●`[role]` values are valid

●`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values

●`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled

●Buttons have an accessible name

●Image elements have `[alt]` attributes

●`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.

●ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents

●Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes

●Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio

●Document has a `<title>` element

●`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute

●`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute

●Links are distinguishable without relying on color.

●Links have a discernible name

●Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).

●List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements

●No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0

●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.

●Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order

●Document has a main landmark.

●Deprecated ARIA roles were not used

●Identical links have the same purpose.

○`[accesskey]` values are unique

○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names

○Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.

○ARIA input fields have accessible names

○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names

○Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.

○`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element

○Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.

○ARIA toggle fields have accessible names

○ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names

○The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region

○`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.

○Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements

○ARIA IDs are unique

○No form fields have multiple labels

○`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title

○`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.

○Input buttons have discernible text.

○`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text

○Form elements have associated labels

○The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`

○`<object>` elements have alternate text

○Select elements have associated label elements.

○Skip links are focusable.

○Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.

○`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.

○`[lang]` attributes have a valid value

○`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`

○Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.

○All heading elements contain content.

○Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements

○Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.

○Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.

○Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.

○`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.

All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.