B
Good
Score: 64/100
Overall (traditional)
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
30,177
Total Enrollment
75%
Graduation Rate
88%
Retention Rate
18.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
89%
Acceptance Rate
$17,354
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Iowa State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$63,386
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$53,873
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$22,869
Median debt at graduation
75.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,204
Average SAT
25
Median ACT
18.8%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 36% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 81st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Iowa State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $79,182 | $105,753 | -3% | #96 of 189 | #79 | $23,750 |
| Computer Science | $78,517 | $104,211 | -3% | #143 of 349 | #116 | $21,775 |
| Construction Engineering | $77,845 | $100,676 | +3% | #8 of 13 | #5 | $19,609 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $84,913 | $99,705 | -1% | #111 of 258 | #87 | $25,020 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $75,036 | $94,089 | -4% | #41 of 59 | #33 | $26,017 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | — | $93,379 | +20% | #16 of 84 | #12 | — |
| Industrial Engineering | $74,310 | $92,914 | -6% | #65 of 94 | #55 | $23,250 |
| Chemical Engineering | $76,184 | $92,773 | -5% | #109 of 158 | #83 | $20,136 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $72,376 | $88,576 | +5% | #6 of 26 | #5 | $20,750 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | $87,413 | +5% | #64 of 166 | #50 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | $72,900 | $85,938 | -7% | #276 of 318 | #191 | $22,822 |
| Civil Engineering | $72,502 | $85,427 | -1% | #112 of 233 | #74 | $24,477 |
| Materials Engineering | $65,831 | $83,416 | -9% | #31 of 34 | #19 | $23,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $60,397 | $83,267 | -10% | #243 of 459 | #226 | $22,452 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $62,416 | $82,548 | -8% | #28 of 33 | #23 | $23,250 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $63,321 | $78,890 | +11% | #1 of 10 | #1 | $19,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,188 | $78,304 | +15% | #173 of 1176 | #111 | $20,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $56,974 | $75,360 | -10% | #254 of 452 | #222 | $19,625 |
| Economics | $57,619 | $75,355 | -9% | #224 of 368 | #178 | $21,250 |
| Statistics | $53,132 | $72,581 | -21% | #46 of 50 | #38 | $22,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,479 | $70,706 | -7% | #466 of 796 | #411 | $22,276 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | $69,673 | +44% | #4 of 137 | #3 | — |
| Architecture | $54,957 | $69,310 | +4% | #31 of 78 | #22 | $30,474 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $53,967 | $67,529 | +1% | #27 of 77 | #30 | $15,000 |
| Chemistry | $43,870 | $66,486 | +2% | #105 of 209 | #65 | $20,199 |
| Marketing | $48,304 | $66,482 | -4% | #262 of 516 | #215 | $21,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | $60,351 | $65,943 | -7% | #21 of 29 | #14 | $23,530 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $50,150 | $65,204 | +8% | #47 of 138 | #29 | $24,781 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $43,520 | $63,026 | -4% | #70 of 110 | #46 | $18,950 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $42,530 | $62,965 | -1% | #82 of 178 | #70 | $23,125 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | — | $62,341 | +17% | #8 of 19 | #7 | $16,029 |
| Mathematics | $51,422 | $62,261 | -10% | #238 of 309 | #193 | $21,650 |
| Area Studies | — | $61,860 | +9% | #26 of 70 | #14 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,909 | $61,697 | +12% | #61 of 225 | #36 | $24,246 |
| Landscape Architecture | $53,355 | $61,364 | -8% | #18 of 19 | #13 | $29,400 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | $44,146 | $61,173 | -9% | #12 of 17 | #12 | $24,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $41,624 | $61,166 | +10% | #112 of 660 | #74 | $19,500 |
| Plant Sciences | $49,393 | $60,997 | +8% | #14 of 44 | #9 | $17,039 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $40,849 | $60,349 | +5% | #18 of 57 | #14 | $21,560 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $36,492 | $60,059 | +10% | #121 of 610 | #101 | $23,204 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $57,928 | — | — | — | — | $31,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,715 | $57,752 | -9% | #383 of 565 | #281 | $22,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $40,497 | $57,110 | +1% | #241 of 660 | #158 | $16,875 |
| International Agriculture | $52,068 | $56,405 | +-0% | — | — | $21,500 |
| Sociology | $40,602 | $55,714 | +6% | #148 of 462 | #85 | $19,876 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $36,743 | $55,491 | -2% | #75 of 137 | #58 | $20,000 |
| Genetics | $33,330 | $55,037 | -17% | #9 of 9 | #9 | $21,631 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $36,532 | $54,889 | +3% | #179 of 476 | #128 | $26,768 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $33,958 | $54,391 | -2% | #50 of 70 | #44 | $18,546 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $36,006 | $54,064 | -3% | #114 of 207 | #81 | $25,490 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
🏆 Where Iowa State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $8,982 | $26,168 |
| Room | $4,862 | |
| Board | $4,864 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $24,204 | $41,390 |
Financial Aid
89%
Receive Any Aid
18%
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Take Out Loans
$17,354
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,734 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,465 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,430 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,807 |
| $110,001+ | $21,827 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Mechanical Engineering
369 grads/yr
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
270 grads/yr
Information Technology
249 grads/yr
Finance, General
244 grads/yr
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
240 grads/yr
Psychology, General
234 grads/yr
Animal Sciences, General
229 grads/yr
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General
192 grads/yr
Computer Science
188 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
177 grads/yr
Accounting
173 grads/yr
Elementary Education and Teaching
157 grads/yr
Veterinary Medicine
157 grads/yr
Business Administration and Management, General
153 grads/yr
Civil Engineering, General
148 grads/yr
Computer Software Engineering
142 grads/yr
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
116 grads/yr
Computer Engineering, General
114 grads/yr
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
113 grads/yr
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
109 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Iowa State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Architectural and engineering managers
$168k/yr
212,500 jobs
Aerospace engineers
$135k/yr
71,600 jobs
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
$106k/yr
50,300 jobs
Mechanical engineers
$102k/yr
293,100 jobs
Cost estimators
$77k/yr
221,400 jobs
Marketing managers
$161k/yr
407,000 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr
619,500 jobs
Advertising and promotions managers
$127k/yr
27,000 jobs
Student Demographics
30,177
Total Students
45%
Women
95%
Traditional Age (18-24)
7%
Off-Campus Renters
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
71%
Hispanic
7%
Black
3%
Asian
4%
Two or More
3%
Non-Resident
9%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
91%
Off-Campus (Renters)
7%
With Family
2%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~2,052 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
43%
Hybrid (Some Online)
54%
Fully Online
3%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
95%
25-64 (Adult)
3%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa State University?
Iowa State University has an acceptance rate of 89%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Iowa State University?
Tuition at Iowa State University is
$8,982 for in-state students
and $26,168 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $17,354.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa State University?
The graduation rate at Iowa State University is 75%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Iowa State University a good school?
Iowa State University has a Repit College Score of 64/100 (Grade: B).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Iowa State University?
Iowa State University has a total enrollment of 30,177 students.
Most students (95%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Iowa State University?
Yes! Approximately 7% of students at Iowa State University live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 2,052 students who need rental housing near campus.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Iowa State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Iowa State University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology