Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Iowa State University vary significantly by field of study. The rankings below evaluate programs based on graduate earnings, debt levels, and return on investment—not prestige or reputation.
Analyzing 71 programs with available earnings data.
These highlights surface programs that stand out across earnings, national ranking, and enrollment size.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Iowa State University.
Engineering programs at Iowa State University deliver the strongest earnings outcomes, with Computer Engineering leading at $95,433 nationally ranked #30. Mechanical Engineering produces the largest engineering cohort with 429 graduates earning $81,779.
Chemical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering also perform well above $80,000. These programs consistently rank #1 in Iowa across disciplines, making Iowa State the state's premier destination for engineering education.
Students pursuing engineering can expect excellent debt capacity with payments under 8% of discretionary income.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering. | — | $105,753 |
Program rankings reflect graduate earnings and career outcomes rather than institutional reputation or academic prestige. Earnings vary significantly within the same institution because different fields command different labor market premiums. Computer Engineering graduates earn more than Psychology graduates not because of program quality differences, but because of market demand for technical skills. Rankings use Department of Education College Scorecard data, requiring minimum cohort sizes for statistical reliability. Value scores incorporate both earnings levels and debt burdens to assess overall return on investment. These data represent actual career outcomes for Iowa State graduates, providing concrete information for academic and career planning decisions.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
| $28,913 |
| 295 |
| Computer Science. | — | $104,211 | $56,711 | 96 |
| Construction Engineering. | — | $100,676 | $35,377 | 71 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | — | $99,705 | $29,000 | 104 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. | — | $94,089 | $19,000 | 158 |
| Industrial Engineering. | — | $92,914 | $19,655 | 132 |
| Chemical Engineering. | — | $92,773 | $19,687 | 123 |
| Agricultural Engineering. | — | $88,576 | — | 78 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | — | $85,938 | $32,948 | 406 |
| Civil Engineering. | — | $85,427 | $31,501 | 122 |
| Materials Engineering. | — | $83,416 | — | 44 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | — | $83,267 | $25,069 | 195 |
| Engineering-Related Fields. | — | $82,548 | $33,983 | 93 |
Business programs combine strong enrollment with solid earnings outcomes, led by Business Administration with 360 graduates earning $68,354. Digital Marketing ranks #67 nationally with 328 graduates, while Accounting graduates earn $66,452.
Banking and Financial Services produces 254 graduates earning $64,793. These programs offer excellent affordability ratings with standard 10-year payoff timelines.
Business represents Iowa State's largest program cluster outside engineering, providing diverse career pathways.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Managerial Economics.Small sample | — | $93,379★ | — | 13 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | — | $78,304 | $24,968 | 418 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | — | $75,360 | $26,152 | 225 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | — | $70,706 | $26,620 | 150 |
| Marketing. | — | $66,482 | $30,343 | 300 |
| International Business.Small sample | — | $55,512 | — | 11 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | — | $55,491 | $21,356 | 116 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | — | $51,392 | — | 45 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. | — | $46,374 | — | 41 |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. leads health with 54K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. | — | $54,391★ | — | 50 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics.Small sample | — | $49,493 | — | 9 |
Biology represents the primary science program with 190 graduates earning $51,094, ranking #125 nationally but #1 in Iowa. The program demonstrates solid outcomes for students pursuing pre-health or research pathways.
Science programs generally show good affordability ratings with standard payoff timelines. Students should consider graduate school continuation rates of approximately 23% when evaluating career trajectories in these fields.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics. | — | $72,581★ | — | 39 |
| Chemistry. | — | $66,486 | — | 32 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.Small sample | — | $65,204 | — | 16 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | — | $63,026 | — | 37 |
| Mathematics. | — | $62,261 | — | 66 |
| Genetics. | — | $55,037 | — | 45 |
| Biology, General. | — | $53,447 | $24,949 | 193 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology.Small sample | — | $52,786 | — | 18 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | — | $49,875 | — | 28 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | — | $39,143 | $27,480 | 118 |
Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 75K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | — | $75,355★ | — | 39 |
| Political Science and Government. | — | $57,752 | $35,734 | 65 |
| Sociology. | — | $55,714 | — | 31 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $49,286 | $23,271 | 217 |
| Anthropology. | — | $43,443 | — | 24 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. leads communications with 63K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | — | $62,965★ | $33,975 | 109 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | — | $57,110 | $15,375 | 65 |
| Journalism. | — | $53,633 | $19,534 | 32 |
Commercial Photography stands out with 227 graduates earning $49,449 and ranking #22 nationally. This program demonstrates Iowa State's strength in applied arts education with strong practical outcomes.
Visual arts programs generally face extended payoff timelines of 10-15 years but maintain good affordability ratings. These programs serve students prioritizing creative career pathways over maximum earnings potential.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.Small sample | — | $69,673★ | — | 15 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | — | $61,697 | — | 35 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | — | $54,889 | $20,500 | 70 |
| History. | — | $52,934 | — | 50 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | — | $52,671 | $32,090 | 221 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $49,626 | $26,319 | 49 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | — | $40,726 | — | 27 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General.Small sample | — | $39,403 | — | 15 |
Adult and Continuing Education produces 199 graduates earning $44,376, ranking #64 nationally. Education programs typically show moderate earnings but provide pathways to meaningful public service careers.
Graduates face good affordability ratings with manageable debt levels. These programs serve students committed to educational leadership and community impact roles.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | — | $52,622★ | $20,595 | 71 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | — | $47,462 | $20,950 | 186 |
Iowa State excels in agricultural programs with national leadership positions. Agribusiness operations ranks #6 nationally with 230 graduates earning $59,766, while Agricultural Animal Breeding ranks #7 nationally.
Both programs demonstrate exceptional value scores above 89, indicating strong return on investment. These programs benefit from Iowa's agricultural economy and Iowa State's research strength.
Graduates face manageable to good affordability ratings depending on specific career paths.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Mechanization. | — | $78,890★ | — | 41 |
| Agricultural Business and Management. | — | $67,529 | $15,309 | 166 |
| Food Science and Technology. | — | $65,943 | — | 31 |
| Plant Sciences. | — | $60,997 | $16,603 | 89 |
| International Agriculture. | — | $56,405 | — | 31 |
| Forestry. | — | $52,650 | — | 31 |
| Animal Sciences. | — | $51,644 | $28,212 | 241 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | — | $51,387 | $35,266 | 78 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections. leads criminal justice with 61K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | — | $61,166 | $25,667 | 132 |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology achieves strong performance with #28 national ranking and 238 graduates earning $53,773. The program demonstrates exceptional value with scores of 87.1, indicating excellent return on investment.
Psychology graduates earn $42,771 with 197 graduates. These interdisciplinary programs show varied outcomes, with health-related fields generally outperforming social sciences in earnings potential.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies.Small sample | — | $62,341★ | — | 13 |
| Area Studies.Small sample | — | $61,860 | — | 9 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning. | — | $61,173 | — | 29 |
| Apparel and Textiles. | — | $60,349 | $20,855 | 100 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | — | $60,059 | $23,249 | 217 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology. | — | $57,928 | — | 78 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.Small sample | — | $54,064 | — | 5 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | — | $53,933 | — | 21 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General.Small sample | — | $51,531 | — | 14 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | — | $46,253 | $25,030 | 86 |
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
