CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Ames, Iowa

Is Business/Managerial Economics at Iowa State University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
Not enough graduates to report
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$100,300
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
Not enough borrowers to report
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$79k (likely $79k – $101k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$60k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in IA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
2 years (likely 1.4–3.0)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
$333k (likely $141k – $565k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$1.02M (likely $617k – $1.49M)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
77%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Business/Managerial Economics at other schools

📈 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward business & money majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Precalculus or AP Calculus AB

IB Higher Level

  • Business Management HL
  • Economics HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Iowa State University