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Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Visit Website

Iowa State University's campus is located in Ames, Iowa, and provides a traditional college town experience. Known for its strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and design, the university fosters a research-oriented environment. As a land-grant institution, Iowa State maintains close ties to its agricultural heritage. Students can participate in a wide array of activities, including spirited support for the Cyclones athletic teams.

Programs Analyzed

Avg Grad Earnings

$49,817/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

56/100

Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$10,497/yr

Out-of-state: $27,683/yr

Financial Aid & Net Price

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by family income. 18% of students receive Pell Grants and 46% take federal loans.

Family Income	Avg Net Price/yr	4-Year Net Cost	Net-Price ROI
$0 – $30K	$11,734	$46,936	10.6x
$30K – $48K	$12,465	$49,860	10.0x
$48K – $75K	$15,430	$61,720	8.1x
$75K – $110K	$19,807	$79,228	6.3x
$110K+	$21,827	$87,308	5.7x
Sticker price (no aid)	$10,497	$41,988	11.9x

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships. ROI = average 10-year graduate earnings ÷ 4-year net cost. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

All Programs at Iowa State University

67 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for full AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Computer Science Compare across schools	88	$78,517/yr	Very High	24.9x
Computer Engineering Compare across schools	85	$79,182/yr	Very High	25.5x
Finance and Financial Management Services Compare across schools	80	$56,974/yr	Very High	17.0x
Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools	79	$58,479/yr	Very High	16.5x
Electrical Compare across schools	77	$84,913/yr	Very High	24.6x
Economics Compare across schools	77	$57,619/yr	Very High	18.3x
Business Administration Compare across schools	77	$57,188/yr	High	17.6x
Construction Engineering Compare across schools	76	$77,845/yr	High	21.7x
Aerospace Compare across schools	75	$75,036/yr	High	21.0x
Chemical Engineering Compare across schools	74	$76,184/yr	High	21.9x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools	73	$72,900/yr	Very High	20.1x
Civil Engineering Compare across schools	73	$72,502/yr	High	19.5x
Industrial Engineering Compare across schools	72	$74,310/yr	High	20.0x
Materials Engineering Compare across schools	69	$65,831/yr	High	19.9x
Engineering-Related Fields Compare across schools	69	$62,416/yr	High	17.5x
Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools	69	$60,397/yr	Very High	13.4x
Agricultural Business and Management Compare across schools	69	$53,967/yr	High	15.4x
Agricultural Engineering Compare across schools	68	$72,376/yr	High	17.5x
Mathematics Compare across schools	67	$51,422/yr	Very High	16.9x
Teacher Education Compare across schools	67	$47,559/yr	High	12.1x
Marketing Compare across schools	66	$48,304/yr	Very High	15.3x
Food Science and Technology Compare across schools	65	$60,351/yr	Moderate	14.2x
Architecture Compare across schools	62	$54,957/yr	High	15.7x
Teacher Education Compare across schools	62	$45,512/yr	High	10.9x
Agricultural Mechanization Compare across schools	61	$63,321/yr	Moderate	16.4x
Bilingual & Multilingual Compare across schools	61	$48,052/yr	High	10.4x
Business Operations Support Compare across schools	60	$49,962/yr	Very High	10.9x
Public Relations & Advertising Compare across schools	60	$42,530/yr	High	14.0x
Landscape Architecture Compare across schools	58	$53,355/yr	High	13.8x
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Compare across schools	57	$46,374/yr	High	10.0x
Environmental Control Technologies Compare across schools	55	$63,707/yr	Moderate	14.2x
Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology Compare across schools	55	$43,520/yr	High	15.7x
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Compare across schools	55	$39,019/yr	High	13.5x
Architectural Sciences and Technology Compare across schools	53	$57,928/yr	High	12.8x
Plant Sciences Compare across schools	53	$49,393/yr	High	11.9x
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning Compare across schools	53	$44,146/yr	High	13.7x
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools	53	$41,624/yr	Moderate	8.9x
Hospitality Administration/Management Compare across schools	53	$36,743/yr	High	11.6x
Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools	53	$36,492/yr	Moderate	13.6x
Sociology Compare across schools	52	$40,602/yr	High	12.8x
Statistics Compare across schools	51	$53,132/yr	Very High	11.7x
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Compare across schools	51	$50,150/yr	High	12.0x
Chemistry Compare across schools	51	$43,870/yr	High	9.4x
Apparel and Textiles Compare across schools	51	$40,849/yr	High	11.1x
History Compare across schools	49	$41,294/yr	High	10.0x
Political Science and Government Compare across schools	49	$30,715/yr	Very High	13.6x
Curriculum and Instruction Compare across schools	48	$48,698/yr	Very High	10.6x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools	48	$40,497/yr	High	12.3x
Animal Sciences Compare across schools	48	$39,567/yr	High	12.3x
Human Development & Family Studies Compare across schools	47	$36,364/yr	High	9.8x
Design and Applied Arts Compare across schools	46	$37,565/yr	High	12.1x
International Agriculture Compare across schools	45	$52,068/yr	High	11.3x
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools	45	$37,890/yr	High	13.0x
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Compare across schools	44	$43,783/yr	High	10.3x
Biology, General Compare across schools	44	$32,528/yr	High	13.0x
Psychology, General Compare across schools	43	$34,155/yr	High	10.9x
Journalism Compare across schools	42	$39,347/yr	Very High	11.4x
Romance Languages & Literatures Compare across schools	40	$37,909/yr	Very High	10.3x
Genetics Compare across schools	38	$33,330/yr	High	12.3x
Forestry Compare across schools	36	$39,337/yr	Moderate	9.8x
English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools	36	$38,375/yr	Very High	8.9x
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Compare across schools	35	$33,958/yr	High	11.7x
Liberal Arts and Sciences Compare across schools	32	$36,532/yr	Low	9.7x
Linguistic & Comparative Compare across schools	31	$25,065/yr	Very High	10.5x
Anthropology Compare across schools	31	$25,014/yr	High	9.5x
Botany/Plant Biology Compare across schools	30	$34,442/yr	High	7.2x
Ecology & Evolution Compare across schools	30	$29,842/yr	High	9.8x

Compare any program at Iowa State University with another school. Use the comparison tool →

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →