Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 75.0%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 75.5%
- Retention Rate
- 87.6%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $63,386
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $22,869
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 75.9%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $242/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $94,408 | $30,724 |
| Statistics. | Master | $91,744 | |
| Industrial Engineering. | Master | $89,059 | |
| Veterinary Medicine. | Doctoral | $77,119 | $138,980 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $73,839 | $23,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $73,321 | $25,020 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $71,734 | $21,775 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $70,680 | $22,707 |
| Construction Engineering. | Bachelor | $70,083 | $19,609 |
| Plant Sciences. | Master | $68,219 | |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,101 | $23,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,221 | $22,822 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,156 | $20,136 |
| Civil Engineering. | Master | $66,541 | |
| Materials Engineering | Bachelor | $63,005 | $23,000 |
Outcomes Overview
Iowa State graduates earn a median of $63,386 ten years after graduation, putting them ahead of many state school peers. The typical monthly loan payment of $242 represents just 4.6% of median monthly income. With median debt of $22,869, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. The university's strong ties to agriculture, engineering, and technology companies help explain the solid 97.2% employment rate. Iowa State's reputation in STEM fields and agricultural sciences opens doors to stable, well-paying careers in growing industries. The combination of reasonable debt loads and strong earning potential makes this a solid return on investment.