College Grad Analyst
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Iowa · Public · Predominantly bachelor's

Iowa State

Ames, Iowa. 25,033 undergraduate students. 323 programs in the federal Field-of-Study dataset.

UNITID 153603 · OPEID 001869 · IPEDS HDVINTAGE · COLLEGE SCORECARD · 2025-05 · HISTORY 1996–2024
ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS

What the data flags at Iowa State

Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING WORSE+14%

Out-of-state tuition

Out-of-state tuition at Iowa State University rose 13% between 2021 and 2024 ($25.4k → $28.9k).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER-100%

3-year cohort default rate

3-year cohort default rate at Iowa State University fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (0.7% → 0.0%).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING WORSE+12%

In-state tuition

In-state tuition at Iowa State University rose 12% between 2021 and 2024 ($9.6k → $10.8k).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER+12%

100%-time completion

100%-time completion at Iowa State University rose 11% between 2021 and 2024 (50.8% → 56.7%).

SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT

The numbers, vs. Iowa

Each tile compares this institution to the Iowa median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10Y
$63,386+18% · 6→10y
Iowa median $42,849
MEDIAN EARNINGS · 6Y
$53,873
Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry
COMPLETION · 150%
75.5%+25% · '97→'24
Iowa median 58.4%
MEDIAN FEDERAL DEBT
$18,750+118% · '97→'20
At program completion
UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT
25,033+26% · '96→'24
latest IPEDS
RETENTION
87.6%+3% · '04→'24
first-time, full-time
ADMISSION RATE
89.1%-2% · '01→'24
latest cohort
IN-STATE TUITION
$10,497+244% · '00→'24
out-of-state $27,683
SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS

How earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry

Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).

ALL FEDERALLY AIDED STUDENTS · TAX-RECORD EARNINGSVINTAGE 2025-05
Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →
SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS

What loans cost relative to earnings

Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.

Institution-wide

3.9%
0%8% · GE20%+

Median federal debt $18,750 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $63,386 (10y after entry).

SECTION 04 · LONG ARC

Ten-plus year arc

Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.

UNDERGRAD · 1996–202425,367
30,2244,65419962024
Undergraduate enrollment.IPEDS EF
COMPLETION 150% · 1997–202475.3%
76%60%19972024
150%-time completion rate.IPEDS GR
MEDIAN DEBT · 1997–2020$22,869
$25,000$10,18619972020
Median federal student debt at exit.SCORECARD
COMPLETION · 150% · 1997→2024+25%

Iowa State · completion · 150% rose

60.1% → 75.3%

COMPLETION · 100% · 1997→2024+175%

Iowa State · completion · 100% rose

20.6% → 56.7%

UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT · 1996→2024+26%

Iowa State · undergrad enrollment rose

20,100 → 25,367

IN-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+244%

Iowa State · in-state tuition rose

$3,132 → $10,787

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+190%

Iowa State · out-of-state tuition rose

$9,974 → $28,881

MEDIAN DEBT · 1997→2020+118%

Iowa State · median debt rose

$10,500 → $22,869

COHORT DEFAULT RATE · 2011→2024-100%

Iowa State · cohort default rate fell

4.0% → 0.0%

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_10YR · 2007→2020+30%

Iowa State · earnings_median_10yr rose

$48,600 → $63,386

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_8YR · 2005→2020+33%

Iowa State · earnings_median_8yr rose

$44,400 → $59,021

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_6YR · 2003→2020+35%

Iowa State · earnings_median_6yr rose

$39,900 → $53,873

SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS

Ranked by 5-year earnings

Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.CIP 1410 · Master's Degree$137,6920 gradsIndustrial Engineering.CIP 1435 · Master's Degree$127,88920 gradsMechanical Engineering.CIP 1419 · Master's Degree$122,139—Computer Engineering.CIP 1409 · Bachelor's Degree$111,313328 gradsVeterinary Medicine.CIP 0180 · First Professional Degree$108,813148 gradsComputer Science.CIP 1107 · Bachelor's Degree$108,762108 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.CIP 1410 · Bachelor's Degree$107,338126 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and Operations.CIP 5202 · Master's Degree$104,1810 gradsChemical Engineering.CIP 1407 · Bachelor's Degree$96,097121 gradsConstruction Engineering.CIP 1433 · Bachelor's Degree$95,40159 gradsAerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.CIP 1402 · Bachelor's Degree$92,551160 gradsMechanical Engineering.CIP 1419 · Bachelor's Degree$88,697451 gradsAccounting and Related Services.CIP 5203 · Master's Degree$88,6480 gradsIndustrial Engineering.CIP 1435 · Bachelor's Degree$88,344117 gradsMaterials EngineeringCIP 1418 · Bachelor's Degree$87,83842 gradsCivil Engineering.CIP 1408 · Master's Degree$87,74134 gradsCivil Engineering.CIP 1408 · Bachelor's Degree$86,261126 gradsManagement Information Systems and Services.CIP 5212 · Bachelor's Degree$86,0100 gradsPlant Sciences.CIP 0111 · Master's Degree$85,11844 gradsEconomics.CIP 4506 · Bachelor's Degree$81,20838 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and Operations.CIP 5202 · Bachelor's Degree$78,149350 gradsEngineering-Related Fields.CIP 1515 · Bachelor's Degree$77,77599 gradsAgricultural Engineering.CIP 1403 · Bachelor's Degree$77,65955 gradsFinance and Financial Management Services.CIP 5208 · Bachelor's Degree$75,665258 grads
Showing top 24 of 73 ranked programs.323 TOTAL PROGRAMS
SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY

73 programs with earnings, grouped

Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.

COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCES · CIP 11

Computer Science.Bachelor's Degree$108,762108 grads

EDUCATION · CIP 13

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.Bachelor's Degree$49,890219 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.Bachelor's Degree$54,84593 gradsEducation, General.Master's Degree$59,0966 grads

ENGINEERING · CIP 14

Mechanical Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$88,697451 gradsComputer Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$111,313328 gradsAerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$92,551160 gradsCivil Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$86,261126 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$107,338126 gradsChemical Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$96,097121 gradsIndustrial Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$88,344117 gradsConstruction Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$95,40159 gradsAgricultural Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$77,65955 gradsMaterials EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,83842 gradsCivil Engineering.Master's Degree$87,74134 gradsIndustrial Engineering.Master's Degree$127,88920 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.Master's Degree$137,6920 gradsMechanical Engineering.Master's Degree$122,139—

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES · CIP 15

Engineering-Related Fields.Bachelor's Degree$77,77599 grads

FOREIGN LANGUAGES · CIP 16

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Bachelor's Degree$47,49363 gradsLinguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.Bachelor's Degree$48,39418 grads

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES · CIP 19

Apparel and Textiles.Bachelor's Degree$50,823138 gradsHuman Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.Bachelor's Degree$45,40783 gradsFamily and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General.Bachelor's Degree$47,25215 grads

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE · CIP 23

English Language and Literature, General.Bachelor's Degree$41,39165 gradsEnglish Language and Literature, General.Master's Degree$58,1853 grads

LIBERAL ARTS & GENERAL STUDIES · CIP 24

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.Bachelor's Degree$44,88880 grads

BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES · CIP 26

Biology, General.Bachelor's Degree$58,585160 gradsEcology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.Bachelor's Degree$45,40786 gradsGenetics.Bachelor's Degree$55,98941 gradsBiochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.Bachelor's Degree$70,19029 gradsMicrobiological Sciences and Immunology.Bachelor's Degree$60,88228 grads

MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS · CIP 27

Mathematics.Bachelor's Degree$75,29461 grads

MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES · CIP 30

Nutrition Sciences.Bachelor's Degree$54,74022 gradsMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.Bachelor's Degree$59,5424 grads

PARKS, RECREATION & FITNESS · CIP 31

Health and Physical Education/Fitness.Bachelor's Degree$61,453242 grads

PHYSICAL SCIENCES · CIP 40

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.Bachelor's Degree$54,75012 grads

PSYCHOLOGY · CIP 42

Psychology, General.Bachelor's Degree$50,080191 grads

SOCIAL SCIENCES · CIP 45

Political Science and Government.Bachelor's Degree$61,48169 gradsEconomics.Bachelor's Degree$81,20838 gradsSociology.Bachelor's Degree$57,75333 gradsAnthropology.Bachelor's Degree$44,01525 grads

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS · CIP 50

Design and Applied Arts.Bachelor's Degree$55,046239 gradsDesign and Applied Arts.Master's Degree$54,26811 grads

HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.Bachelor's Degree$53,14658 gradsAllied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.Bachelor's Degree$53,84613 grads

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52

Business Administration, Management and Operations.Bachelor's Degree$78,149350 gradsMarketing.Bachelor's Degree$68,459270 gradsFinance and Financial Management Services.Bachelor's Degree$75,665258 gradsAccounting and Related Services.Bachelor's Degree$73,400156 gradsHospitality Administration/Management.Bachelor's Degree$52,830104 gradsManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods.Bachelor's Degree$73,05719 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and Operations.Master's Degree$104,1810 gradsAccounting and Related Services.Master's Degree$88,6480 gradsManagement Information Systems and Services.Bachelor's Degree$86,0100 grads

HISTORY · CIP 54

History.Bachelor's Degree$46,00050 grads

AGRICULTURE · CIP 01

Agricultural Business and Management.Bachelor's Degree$68,687236 gradsAnimal Sciences.Bachelor's Degree$55,971210 gradsVeterinary Medicine.First Professional Degree$108,813148 gradsPlant Sciences.Bachelor's Degree$53,958115 gradsAgricultural Mechanization.Bachelor's Degree$73,12754 gradsInternational Agriculture.Bachelor's Degree$51,60145 gradsPlant Sciences.Master's Degree$85,11844 gradsFood Science and Technology.Bachelor's Degree$63,74142 grads

NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION · CIP 03

Natural Resources Conservation and Research.Bachelor's Degree$58,84995 gradsForestry.Bachelor's Degree$45,34223 grads

ARCHITECTURE · CIP 04

City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.Bachelor's Degree$61,65828 gradsArchitecture.Bachelor's Degree$70,1180 gradsLandscape Architecture.Bachelor's Degree$62,093—

AREA, ETHNIC & CULTURAL STUDIES · CIP 05

Area Studies.Bachelor's Degree$65,88816 grads

COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.Bachelor's Degree$63,153135 gradsCommunication and Media Studies.Bachelor's Degree$55,66492 gradsJournalism.Bachelor's Degree$52,09549 grads
FINANCIAL OUTCOME · ILLUSTRATION

Estimate the financial outcome at Iowa State

Pick a program. Cost from Scorecard net price by family income; earnings from Treasury 5-year-post-completion median, projected forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve. The selection-bias toggle applies the Dale-Krueger shrinkage. Outcomes illustration, not a forecast — see methodology.

Shrinks the earnings premium toward the matched-applicant mean. STEM <15%, business ~40%, arts & education ~60%.

NET PRESENT VALUE
$1,059,763
Over 40 years, discounted 5.0%
BREAKEVEN
Year 6
First year cumulative discounted earnings cross zero
graduationbreakeven · year 6year 0year 39
Cost per year
$15,430
HS-only baseline · IA
$36,800
Years to complete
4
CIP family
14

Outcomes illustration · not a forecast. Projects observed Scorecard earnings forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve under your assumptions. See methodology for the math.

SECTION 07 · SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Same sector and degree mix in Iowa

Picked by Carnegie sector × predominant credential level. These are not rankings — just nearest-neighbour surfaces for comparison.

IOWA CITY$64.8k

Iowa

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 73% completion
CEDAR FALLS$55.2k

University of Northern Iowa

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 69% completion
ANKENY$41.0k

Des Moines Area Community College

Public · Predominantly certificates · 34% completion
CEDAR RAPIDS$41.0k

Kirkwood Community College

Public · Predominantly associate's · 40% completion
DAVENPORT$39.1k

Eastern Iowa Community College District

Public · Predominantly associate's · 34% completion
CAUSAL DISCIPLINE

“Iowa State graduates earn $X” — not “Iowa State makes you earn $X”

Median earnings describe what cohorts earned. They do not describe what attending Iowa State caused. Selection effects (who admits, who enrolls, who completes) are real. We publish federal data with strict descriptive phrasing — and link the methodology where you can read about the limitations directly.

Methodology →