Iowa State University
A good choice overall. It ranks 376 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 69.4 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
What do students really think?
You have seen the federal numbers for Iowa State University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.
Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.
Why it is good
- 74% of students graduate, better than 80% of four-year colleges.
- Students stay: 88% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 82% of four-year colleges.
- Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $67,568, higher than 72% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $21,250 in federal loans against earnings of $67,568.
Why it is bad
Nothing stands out as clearly worse than similar colleges.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 356 | $67,221 | $22,971 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 345 | $54,350 | $19,427 |
| Marketing | 331 | $45,249 | $21,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 250 | $34,126 | $23,250 |
| Psychology, General | 246 | $30,771 | $20,500 |
| Computer Engineering | 243 | $73,839 | $24,250 |
| Animal Sciences | 235 | $38,289 | $20,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 231 | $40,322 | $22,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 216 | $38,721 | $25,490 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 212 | $50,060 | $20,750 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 177 | $48,432 | $15,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 174 | n/a | $21,400 |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Iowa State University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.