Ames, IA · Private University
Is Iowa State University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$63,386
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$10,497
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$27,683
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$110,732
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.29x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.9 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
75.5%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$22,869
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$18,165
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Iowa State University graduates earn $18,386 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Iowa State University ranked by graduate earnings
357 graduates
102 graduates
105 graduates
112 graduates
87 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Iowa State University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Iowa State University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Engineering: $95,433) and the lowest (Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services: $27,198) is $68,235/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringBest ROI | $95,433 | 3.5x |
| Computer Science | $94,712 | 3.4x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $92,805 | 3.4x |
| Chemical Engineering | $87,688 | 3.2x |
| Construction Engineering | $85,601 | 3.1x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $81,779 | 3.0x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $81,428 | 2.9x |
| Industrial Engineering | $77,569 | 2.8x |
| Civil Engineering | $77,365 | 2.8x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $75,259 | 2.7x |
| Materials Engineering | $73,620 | 2.7x |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $71,186 | 2.6x |
| Economics | $70,764 | 2.6x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $70,190 | 2.5x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,354 | 2.5x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $66,452 | 2.4x |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $66,079 | 2.4x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $64,793 | 2.3x |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians(1yr data) | $63,707 | 2.3x |
| Landscape Architecture | $61,464 | 2.2x |
| Architecture | $60,970 | 2.2x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General(1yr data) | $60,397 | 2.2x |
| Marketing | $60,108 | 2.2x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $59,766 | 2.2x |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $59,624 | 2.1x |
| Food Science and Technology | $59,332 | 2.1x |
| Mathematics | $58,347 | 2.1x |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology(1yr data) | $57,928 | 2.1x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $54,860 | 2.0x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $54,750 | 2.0x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,773 | 1.9x |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $53,543 | 1.9x |
| Statistics(1yr data) | $53,132 | 1.9x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $52,852 | 1.9x |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $52,013 | 1.9x |
| Biology, General | $51,094 | 1.9x |
| Sociology | $50,992 | 1.8x |
| Plant Sciences | $50,545 | 1.8x |
| Political Science and Government | $50,541 | 1.8x |
| Genetics | $49,980 | 1.8x |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services(1yr data) | $49,962 | 1.8x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $49,449 | 1.8x |
| Curriculum and Instruction(1yr data) | $48,698 | 1.8x |
| Apparel and Textiles | $48,648 | 1.8x |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education(1yr data) | $48,052 | 1.7x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,774 | 1.7x |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $47,761 | 1.7x |
| Journalism | $47,655 | 1.7x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $47,358 | 1.7x |
| Animal Sciences | $47,285 | 1.7x |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations(1yr data) | $46,374 | 1.7x |
| International Agriculture | $46,231 | 1.7x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $45,851 | 1.7x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,673 | 1.6x |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $44,662 | 1.6x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,376 | 1.6x |
| Chemistry(1yr data) | $43,870 | 1.6x |
| Psychology, General | $42,771 | 1.6x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections(1yr data) | $41,624 | 1.5x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $41,105 | 1.5x |
| History | $40,853 | 1.5x |
| Forestry | $40,488 | 1.5x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $39,711 | 1.4x |
| Anthropology | $39,017 | 1.4x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $37,906 | 1.4x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $36,326 | 1.3x |
| Botany/Plant Biology(1yr data) | $34,442 | 1.2x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesLowest | $27,198 | 1.0x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | 2.29x | $63,386 | Strong ROI |
| University of Kansas | 2.11x | $61,945 | Strong ROI |
| University of Iowa | 1.97x | $64,762 | Good ROI |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 2.05x | $56,887 | Strong ROI |
| Kansas State University | 2.06x | $57,262 | Strong ROI |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 2.28x | $64,270 | Strong ROI |
The Bottom Line
Iowa State University stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $63,386 10 years after starting — $18,386 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.9 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.