Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,374/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (447,800 openings/yr)
ROI
12.1x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $512K | $510K | $475K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.2x | 12.1x | 11.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 45% | 32% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 58 | 57 | 52 |
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 (4.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,750
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
About Iowa State University
A 89% acceptance rate means Iowa State University is accessible to most applicants, 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
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
General and operations managers
$102,950/yr
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Iowa State University's Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program score?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.
How vulnerable is Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →