Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of Iowa by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of Iowa ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
46
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$21,169
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$26,883
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$633,879 | $80,592 | $26,883 | $22,540 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$633,276 | $80,787 | $26,883 | $25,875 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$438,138 | $71,106 | $26,883 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$410,570 | $69,465 | $26,883 | $23,109 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$408,203 | $69,238 | $26,883 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$386,393 | $68,215 | $26,883 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$356,938 | $67,046 | $26,883 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$334,115 | $65,646 | $26,883 | $23,165 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$322,338 | $65,316 | $26,883 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$310,494 | $64,658 | $26,883 | $26,025 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$247,733 | $61,438 | $26,883 | $24,811 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$233,458 | $60,872 | $26,883 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$197,045 | $58,832 | $26,883 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$153,638 | $56,746 | $26,883 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Human Resources Management and Services.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$137,236 | $55,801 | $26,883 | $23,149 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$135,118 | $55,645 | $26,883 | $22,407 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$67,748 | $52,654 | $26,883 | $28,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$57,921 | $51,740 | $26,883 | $21,738 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate).
Grad rate: 73.4% |
+$32,668 | $49,010 | $26,883 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Business/Commerce, General.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$10,252 | $46,864 | $26,883 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$21,660 | $48,036 | $26,883 | $25,814 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
International Relations and National Security Studies.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$53,592 | $46,454 | $26,883 | $26,030 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$57,382 | $46,195 | $26,883 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$58,329 | $46,097 | $26,883 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$64,666 | $45,826 | $26,883 | $24,929 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$65,362 | $45,931 | $26,883 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$98,926 | $44,179 | $26,883 | $25,907 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$135,969 | $42,178 | $26,883 | $23,702 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$140,549 | $41,986 | $26,883 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$149,565 | $41,604 | $26,883 | $25,269 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$153,954 | $41,413 | $26,883 | $25,691 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$162,352 | $39,259 | $26,883 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$164,313 | $40,883 | $26,883 | $25,512 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
History.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$181,102 | $40,075 | $26,883 | $25,978 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$181,244 | $39,985 | $26,883 | $24,750 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$193,765 | $39,388 | $26,883 | $25,180 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$194,732 | $39,260 | $26,883 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Music.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$195,219 | $39,491 | $26,883 | $27,783 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$221,889 | $37,929 | $26,883 | $24,398 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Dance.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$226,138 | $37,715 | $26,883 | $24,375 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$248,202 | $36,789 | $26,883 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
International/Global Studies.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$256,188 | $36,271 | $26,883 | $25,242 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$269,071 | $35,720 | $26,883 | $26,622 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$283,641 | $34,929 | $26,883 | $25,696 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$300,112 | $33,856 | $26,883 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 73.4% |
-$434,942 | $27,317 | $26,883 | $25,000 | 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.