Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Iowa State University #197 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $68,277 four years after enrollment, placing Iowa State University in the 72.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Iowa State University sits in the 76.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchored by strong engineering, computer science, and business program clusters that consistently deliver competitive early-career earnings. --- Students at Iowa State University earn median $68,277 four years after enrollment — a figure that reflects the university's concentration in engineering and applied technical fields and places it well above most institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for graduate earnings. Iowa State University's return on investment ranking is driven by a program mix that channels a large share of graduates into high-demand careers, pairing public-university pricing with outcomes more commonly associated with higher-cost institutions.
Azimuth ranks Iowa State University #197 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Ames, IA, Iowa State University enrolls roughly 25,367 undergraduates. Retention stands at 87.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 75.3%, figures that reflect a university converting the large majority of its entering classes into degree completions. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks Iowa State University #343 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,512 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Iowa State University in the 74.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Engineering is the dominant program family, and the concentration in engineering and related STEM fields helps explain why graduates consistently land median earnings well above those at comparable institutions. Mobility sits in the 91.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by solid outcomes for low-income graduates. Access is the lower-ranked pillar — Iowa State University admits about 88.7% of applicants, and 18.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants with 19.9% identifying as first-generation, shares that sit below the medians for large public research universities. Affordability lands in the 57.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a net-price structure shaped by IA's public-tuition baseline and institutional aid reach.
Iowa State University's published cost of attendance is $24,018, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,582 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $15,463, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,496. Azimuth ranks Iowa State University #603 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Iowa State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay reflects a combination of Pell Grants, institutional scholarships, and state aid. The net price illusion is real here: the published cost of attendance overstates what the majority of students pay, particularly at lower income levels. Families should apply using the FAFSA to access the full range of need-based aid available. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,869, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,950; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,277, median federal debt of $22,869 projects to a monthly payment of about $258 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Iowa State University is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, applied sciences, and technology who want a large public research university in IA with a clear path to strong post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,277, placing Iowa State University in the 72.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $4,512 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Iowa State University in the 74.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. With 18.8% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 19.9% identifying as first-generation students, Iowa State serves a broad range of family backgrounds, and Iowa State University sits in the 79.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — suggesting that access and outcomes are meaningfully linked here. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Iowa State's program mix is concentrated in Engineering and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the admission rate of 88.7% means the university is broadly accessible to most qualified applicants.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Iowa State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of West Florida Similar quality tier (#4903 ranked) | FL | 58% | $49,137 | #4903 | Compare |
East Carolina University Similar quality tier (#4379 ranked) | NC | 89% | $55,146 | #4379 | Compare |
Metropolitan State University Of Denver Similar quality tier (#5418 ranked) | CO | 99% | $52,093 | #5418 | Compare |
Colorado State University-Fort Collins Similar quality tier (#5421 ranked) | CO | 89% | $60,543 | #5421 | Compare |
East Texas A&M University Similar quality tier (#5423 ranked) | TX | 92% | $50,296 | #5423 | Compare |
Computer Engineering
295 graduates
Computer Science
96 graduates
Construction Engineering
71 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
104 graduates
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
158 graduates
Iowa State University's program mix is anchored in Engineering, consistent with the university's land-grant research identity, but the portfolio extends well beyond a single discipline. Engineering accounts for 23% of graduates, Business accounts for 19%, and Education accounts for 4% — a balance of applied-technical and professional fields that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile.
Across 83 programs serving roughly 6,791 students annually, 63 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The strongest earnings come from engineering and computing subfields.
Azimuth ranks Computer Engineering #41 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 295 graduates earning $105,753. Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #173 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $85,938, and Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #108 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $83,267.
Mechanical Engineering combines large cohort scale — 418 graduates — with median earnings of $78,304, making it the program that contributes the most aggregate economic value to the institution's graduate outcomes. The largest programs by enrollment reflect the breadth of the university's applied portfolio.
The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 406 students with median earnings of $85,938, and the The Digital Marketing program graduates 300 students with median earnings of $66,482. Engineering and computing programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly, while fields like Computer Engineering and Animal Sciences serve students whose four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory if a meaningful share continue to graduate or professional school.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Iowa State University's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand. ```
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Iowa State University's published cost of attendance is $24,018, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,582 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $15,463, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,496.
Azimuth ranks Iowa State University #603 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Iowa State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay reflects a combination of Pell Grants, institutional scholarships, and state aid. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real here: the published cost of attendance overstates what the majority of students pay, particularly at lower income levels.
Families should apply using the FAFSA to access the full range of need-based aid available. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,869, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,950; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,277, median federal debt of $22,869 projects to a monthly payment of about $258 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Iowa State University earn median earnings of $68,277 four years after enrollment, placing Iowa State University in the 72.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $4,512 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Iowa State University #343 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Iowa State University's strength in applied and technical fields. Engineering is the dominant program family, accounting for 23% of degrees, followed by Business at 19% and Education at 4%.
Mechanical Engineering combines large cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a central driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #77 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 418 graduates earning median earnings of $78,304 — 1.1x the national benchmark for the field.
The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 406 students with median earnings of $85,938, and Azimuth ranks Digital Marketing #113 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 300 graduates earning $66,482. Computer Engineering and Animal Sciences round out the top programs, with Azimuth ranking them #41 and #18 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, respectively.
