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Business Administration at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
77 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
78
Optimistic
77
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,188/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #47 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Administration graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $653K $640K $570K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.6x 15.2x 13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.8x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 78 77 71

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 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,660
-73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,149
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $57,188/yr, edging above the $46,892 national average for Business Administration — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 15.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,500 in median debt against $57,188 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #47 out of 1,169 programs, Iowa State University's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $57,188 to $78,149 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 25,033 in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
View all 42 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,913) Computer Engineering ($79,182) Computer Science ($78,517) Construction Engineering ($77,845) Chemical Engineering ($76,184) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($75,036) Industrial Engineering ($74,310) Mechanical Engineering ($72,900)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Iowa State University's Business Administration program score?
A score of 77/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Iowa State University's Business Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Iowa State University rank so high for Business Administration?
The #47 ranking out of 1,169 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →