Iowa State University
Iowa State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Iowa State University at a Glance
The Iowa State University of Science and Technology, also referred to as Iowa State University, is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the nation's first designated land-grant institutions when the Iowa Legislature accepted the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act on September 11, 1862. On July 4, 1959, the college was officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and T…
1858
168 years old
$1.9B
$1.915 billion (2025)
31,105
26,346 undergrad · 4,116 grad
1,746
1,813 acres
Identity
Is Iowa State University Worth It?
Iowa State University delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $18,589/year, it's priced 9% below average, while graduates go on to earn $63,386 — 18% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 75% graduation rate means roughly 25% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Iowa State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #19 of 51 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #2 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #3 | California State University-Fullerton | 100 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #5 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #19 | Iowa State University | 64 | $18,589 | $63,386 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Iowa State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in IA.
Best Programs at Iowa State University
The highest-earning program at Iowa State University is Computer Engineering at $71,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $23,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from Iowa State University earns $71,400, while a Anthropology graduate earns $23,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $25,750 in median debt vs. $30,112 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,589/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $71,400 | $71,400 | $25,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $71,200 | $71,200 | $26,251 |
| Computer Science | $68,900 | $68,900 | $25,375 |
| Chemical Engineering | $66,000 | $66,000 | $23,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $65,700 | $65,700 | $22,804 |
| Construction Engineering | $65,400 | $65,400 | $27,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $64,200 | $64,200 | $24,125 |
| Materials Engineering | $62,000 | $62,000 | $24,972 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,700 | $60,700 | $25,750 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $60,300 | $60,300 | $26,815 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $58,900 | $58,900 | $21,812 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $56,500 | $56,500 | $24,858 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $54,900 | $54,900 | $25,750 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $52,900 | $52,900 | $23,200 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $52,700 | $52,700 | $21,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $50,300 | $50,300 | $24,726 |
| Architecture | $48,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $46,400 | $46,400 | $17,207 |
| Landscape Architecture | $46,000 | $46,000 | $30,100 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $45,600 | $45,600 | $22,045 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $44,800 | $44,800 | $23,250 |
| Plant Sciences | $43,700 | $43,700 | $18,750 |
| Marketing | $42,400 | $42,400 | $22,500 |
| Mathematics | $42,200 | $42,200 | $21,375 |
| Economics | $42,000 | $42,000 | $19,099 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,600 | $40,600 | $19,831 |
| Food Science and Technology | $39,500 | $39,500 | $25,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $39,100 | $39,100 | $24,286 |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $38,900 | $38,900 | $23,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,800 | $37,800 | $25,125 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $37,700 | $37,700 | $25,000 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $37,300 | $37,300 | $21,837 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $37,000 | $37,000 | $22,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,800 | $36,800 | $22,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,700 | $36,700 | $20,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,200 | $36,200 | $23,394 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $36,000 | $36,000 | $22,922 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $36,000 | $36,000 | $25,500 |
| Animal Sciences | $35,800 | $35,800 | $24,415 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $35,200 | $35,200 | $23,250 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $35,100 | $35,100 | $22,012 |
| Sociology | $35,000 | $35,000 | $20,750 |
| Journalism | $34,500 | $34,500 | $23,500 |
| Forestry | $33,400 | $33,400 | $22,375 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,100 | $32,100 | $24,181 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $30,800 | $30,800 | $21,500 |
| Genetics | $30,800 | $30,800 | $24,250 |
| History | $30,600 | $30,600 | $24,681 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $30,400 | $30,400 | $23,100 |
| Biology, General | $30,200 | $30,200 | $23,463 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $30,100 | $30,100 | $20,525 |
| Psychology, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $23,250 |
| International Agriculture | $28,400 | $28,400 | $26,640 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $23,540 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $26,900 | $26,900 | $23,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,500 | $25,500 | $23,500 |
| Anthropology | $23,000 | $23,000 | $30,112 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Ames, IA
- Student Body
- 25,367 students
- Admission Rate
- 89%
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,589
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,386
- Median Student Debt
- $22,869