COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Economics bachelor's degree at Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$7,331 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 31.1% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $30,888 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- +19% · Positive payoff
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$123,550
$10,000Annual price+$83,550
$19,000Current college-wide context+$47,550
$20,000Annual price+$43,550
$30,000Annual price+$3,550
$40,000Annual price−$36,450
$50,000Annual price−$76,450
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$75,355$39,273 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$18,589
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$23,414
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$75,355
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$248/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$18,589Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,018Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE88.7%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE75.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?
Reported earnings after completion.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.9% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$6,280
Estimated loan payment$248
47borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$75,355 vs. $82,686
$7,331 below the national median for the same field and credential.
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.Managers, All Other$128,080 median wageIA estimate · 3,600 jobs · 11-9199$89,800–$165,840 middle 50% of IA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$96,310 median wageIA estimate · 70 jobs · 19-3011$64,210–$133,970 middle 50% of IA wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$85,090 median wageIA estimate · 80 jobs · 25-1063$78,410–$116,010 middle 50% of IA wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$40,940 median wageIA estimate · 140 jobs · 19-4061$33,000–$44,520 middle 50% of IA wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$83,170 median wageIA estimate · 90 jobs · 19-3022$83,170–$88,680 middle 50% of IA wages-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$95,830 median wageIA estimate · 2,300 jobs · 15-2051$71,010–$127,340 middle 50% of IA wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeStatisticians$80,150 median wageIA estimate · 250 jobs · 15-2041$50,850–$98,840 middle 50% of IA wages+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$66,390 median wageIA estimate · 8,880 jobs · 13-1161$50,010–$85,680 middle 50% of IA wages+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,200 median wageIA estimate · 12,310 jobs · 25-2031$49,390–$73,970 middle 50% of IA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Finance and Insurance
Public Administration
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Educational Services
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Grinnell College
$35,369 higher earnings · $6,464 less debt · $941 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $110,724
- Debt
- $16,950
- Annual net price
- $17,648
University of Iowa
$1,391 higher earnings · $1,007 less debt
- Earnings
- $76,746
- Debt
- $22,407
- Annual net price
- $22,531
University of Northern Iowa
$6,245 less debt · $2,688 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $71,905
- Debt
- $17,169
- Annual net price
- $15,901
Drake University
$13,283 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $88,638
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $29,127
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
32 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →