Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Iowa State University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Iowa State University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
62
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$59,020
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$23,309
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$699,749 | $83,292 | $23,309 | $24,337 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$699,358 | $83,452 | $23,309 | $26,997 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$657,388 | $81,196 | $23,309 | $24,663 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Construction Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$588,669 | $77,479 | $23,309 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$561,770 | $76,113 | $23,309 | $20,188 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$526,099 | $74,553 | $23,309 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$496,871 | $73,299 | $23,309 | $26,572 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Materials Engineering
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$472,465 | $71,846 | $23,309 | $23,125 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$460,021 | $71,266 | $23,309 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$442,776 | $70,505 | $23,309 | $25,250 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Management Information Systems and Services.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$366,344 | $64,979 | $23,309 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Agricultural Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$335,559 | $64,891 | $23,309 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$284,226 | $62,375 | $23,309 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Engineering-Related Fields.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$276,775 | $62,204 | $23,309 | $25,236 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Agricultural Mechanization.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$264,606 | $61,306 | $23,309 | $20,946 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$236,536 | $60,058 | $23,309 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$218,884 | $57,606 | $23,309 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$189,261 | $57,593 | $23,309 | $21,750 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$185,344 | $55,929 | $23,309 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$181,475 | $57,316 | $23,309 | $23,414 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$113,114 | $54,410 | $23,309 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$110,931 | $53,354 | $23,309 | $16,972 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Landscape Architecture.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$82,121 | $52,776 | $23,309 | $29,750 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$75,956 | $52,029 | $23,309 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$75,774 | $52,273 | $23,309 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$57,234 | $51,346 | $23,309 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$53,012 | $50,861 | $23,309 | $22,942 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Plant Sciences.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
+$11,709 | $48,631 | $23,309 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$22,239 | $46,769 | $23,309 | $18,062 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
International Agriculture.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$38,653 | $46,231 | $23,309 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$39,966 | $46,081 | $23,309 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$44,391 | $45,961 | $23,309 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$56,988 | $45,483 | $23,309 | $24,750 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$63,613 | $45,215 | $23,309 | $25,687 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$65,702 | $44,877 | $23,309 | $22,227 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Genetics.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$78,557 | $44,194 | $23,309 | $21,631 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Apparel and Textiles.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$82,121 | $44,122 | $23,309 | $23,204 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$84,426 | $43,723 | $23,309 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$86,559 | $44,050 | $23,309 | $25,425 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$91,963 | $43,481 | $23,309 | $20,998 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$94,823 | $43,490 | $23,309 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$97,566 | $43,606 | $23,309 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Food Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$103,838 | $43,242 | $23,309 | $26,254 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$130,081 | $41,609 | $23,309 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$131,655 | $41,682 | $23,309 | $23,748 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$132,264 | $41,710 | $23,309 | $24,614 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$142,703 | $41,096 | $23,309 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$143,608 | $40,962 | $23,309 | $21,935 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$146,239 | $40,661 | $23,309 | $19,425 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$150,869 | $40,433 | $23,309 | $19,477 | Full ROI → |
| 51 |
Nutrition Sciences.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$154,895 | $40,029 | $23,309 | $16,474 | Full ROI → |
| 52 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$160,426 | $40,328 | $23,309 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 53 |
History.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$188,345 | $39,000 | $23,309 | $26,007 | Full ROI → |
| 54 |
Forestry.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$193,435 | $38,302 | $23,309 | $19,437 | Full ROI → |
| 55 |
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$196,803 | $38,391 | $23,309 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 56 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$246,109 | $35,917 | $23,309 | $23,121 | Full ROI → |
| 57 |
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$272,084 | $34,701 | $23,309 | $24,347 | Full ROI → |
| 58 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$276,837 | $34,752 | $23,309 | $28,623 | Full ROI → |
| 59 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$285,249 | $34,084 | $23,309 | $24,958 | Full ROI → |
| 60 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$307,665 | $33,142 | $23,309 | $27,607 | Full ROI → |
| 61 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$331,356 | $31,714 | $23,309 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 62 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 75.0% |
-$422,746 | $27,198 | $23,309 | $24,793 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.