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Marketing at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,304/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #66 of 502 Marketing programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$616K	$601K	$539K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.7x	14.3x	12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.4x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	67	66	60

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 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,459

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,304 at Iowa State University come in 6% above the national median of $45,450 for Marketing programs.

The 14.3x 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 — 54% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $48,304 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #66 out of 502 programs, Iowa State University's Marketing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,304 to $68,459 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Marketing 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

How does Iowa State University's Marketing program score?

This program scores 66/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Marketing graduates.

How vulnerable is Marketing to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Marketing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 54% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Iowa State University rank so high for Marketing?

The #66 ranking out of 502 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 →