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Business Operations Support at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,962/yr (58% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (67% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (1,381,100 openings/yr)

ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 6 Business Operations Support programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$524K	$519K	$472K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.4x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.7x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	39%	33%	19%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	43

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 (4.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,363

5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,962 put Iowa State University's Business Operations Support program 58% above the national median of $31,529 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Operations Support programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business Operations Support's typical career paths, with 67% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $49,962 far exceeding the $22,363 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Business Operations Support in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 25,033 in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Business operations specialists, all other $81,270/yr

Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants $74,260/yr

First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers $66,140/yr

View all 18 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business Operations Support at Other Schools

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Operations Support at Iowa State University?

A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Business Operations Support field.

Will AI replace Business Operations Support careers?

With 67% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $472,020 in decade earnings vs $524,174 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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