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Bilingual & Multilingual at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,052/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk High (29% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (303,500 openings/yr)

ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 3 Bilingual & Multilingual programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Bilingual & Multilingual graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$534K	$531K	$507K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.7x	12.6x	12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.8x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	66%	57%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	61	64

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,988

Out-of-state: $110,732 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,500

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $48,052/yr, Bilingual & Multilingual graduates from Iowa State University land near the $53,419 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Bilingual & Multilingual programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Bilingual & Multilingual's typical career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $23,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

This program is one of 3 schools offering Bilingual & Multilingual in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About Iowa State University

With 89% of applicants admitted, Iowa State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 25,033 students in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr

Teachers and instructors, all other $64,690/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Bilingual & Multilingual at Other Schools

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Bilingual & Multilingual at Iowa State University?

This program scores 61/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Bilingual & Multilingual programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Bilingual & Multilingual careers?

With 29% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $506,742 in decade earnings vs $533,711 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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