Students at Iowa State University consistently achieve strong long-term earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally for financial outcomes.
Graduates benefit from the university's particular strength in engineering and business fields, which regularly deliver above-average career prospects and earning potential.
Azimuth ranks Iowa State University among the top performers nationally for overall value, reflecting its strong combination of solid earnings outcomes and reasonable costs. What distinguishes Iowa State is its consistent ability to prepare students for well-paying careers, particularly in engineering and technology fields where the university has built substantial expertise and industry connections over decades.
Graduates earn a median of $63,386 ten years after enrollment, placing Iowa State in the top 15% nationally for long-term earnings. The university serves about 18% Pell Grant recipients and 20% first-generation students, though its primary strength lies in delivering strong outcomes for the students it enrolls rather than maximizing access. As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Iowa State combines solid academic standards with reliable financial returns.
As Iowa's flagship land-grant research university, Iowa State offers the scale and resources of a major public institution while maintaining a clear focus on practical, career-oriented education. The university's location in Ames provides a college-town environment with strong connections to Iowa's agricultural and manufacturing economy, plus growing ties to technology and business sectors throughout the Midwest.
Iowa State University's program portfolio demonstrates clear strength in engineering and business fields that consistently deliver strong financial outcomes for graduates. Mechanical Engineering leads in aggregate impact, graduating 429 students annually with median earnings of $67,221, while Computer Engineering produces the highest individual earnings at $73,839 for 295 graduates. Business Administration and Management represents the university's largest single program with 360 graduates earning a solid $54,350, showing Iowa State's ability to combine scale with quality outcomes.
The university's engineering programs consistently rank among its strongest performers financially, with multiple specialties delivering median earnings in the $60,000s and above. This reflects Iowa State's long-standing reputation in engineering education and its strong industry connections throughout the Midwest and beyond. Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and related technical fields benefit from robust employer demand and the university's established track record in preparing work-ready graduates.
What sets Iowa State apart is the breadth of its high-performing programs rather than concentration in just one or two fields. While engineering leads in earnings, business programs provide solid outcomes for large numbers of students, and the university maintains strength across multiple technical and professional disciplines. This diversity helps ensure that students across different interests and aptitudes can find pathways to strong career outcomes.
Iowa State University graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes that consistently outperform many peer institutions. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $63,386, placing the university in the top 15% nationally for earnings. This performance reflects Iowa State's particular strength in high-return fields like engineering, computer science, and business, where graduates regularly secure well-paying positions in growing industries.
Mechanical Engineering stands out as Iowa State's highest aggregate-return program, graduating 429 students annually with median earnings of $67,221. Computer Engineering delivers even stronger individual outcomes at $73,839 median earnings, while Business Administration and Management represents the university's largest program with 360 graduates earning a solid $54,350. These three programs alone demonstrate Iowa State's ability to combine substantial enrollment with strong financial outcomes, creating meaningful economic impact for graduates.
The university's engineering programs consistently deliver some of the strongest early-career earnings, with multiple specialties posting median salaries in the mid-to-upper $60,000s and beyond. This reflects both Iowa State's long-standing reputation in engineering education and its strong connections to employers in manufacturing, technology, and agricultural industries throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Iowa State University offers predictable and reasonable pricing across income levels, making it accessible for families planning a four-year degree investment. Low-income students pay about $11,734 annually after aid, which sits comfortably below national averages for public research universities. Middle-income families see net costs around $15,430 per year, while higher-income families pay approximately $21,827 annually—all figures that remain competitive within the public university landscape.
Debt levels at Iowa State are manageable relative to the earnings graduates achieve. Typical federal student loan debt is about $22,869, and Parent PLUS borrowing averages $21,463 for families who choose that option. With median graduate earnings of $63,386 ten years out, most borrowers can handle standard repayment comfortably, and the university's strong loan repayment rates demonstrate that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully.
What makes Iowa State particularly sustainable financially is the combination of reasonable upfront costs and reliable long-term earnings. The university avoids both the extremely high net prices seen at some flagship institutions and the uncertain outcomes that can make debt burdensome elsewhere, creating a balanced value proposition for families across income levels.
Iowa State University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
