Business Administrationat Iowa State University
Graduates earn $57,188/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $640K; scenarios range from $570K to $653K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Iowa State University
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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Iowa State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Business Administration
How Iowa State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Iowa State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Iowa State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Administration offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Business Administration at Iowa State University
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.