Business Administration, Management and Operations at Drake University

Drake's business administration program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground within Iowa—below the state median ($49,003) and ranking in just the 40th percentile among the state's 25 business programs. While the $47,806 starting salary edges past the national median, Iowa students have stronger in-state options: William Penn, Saint Ambrose, Iowa State, and Simpson all deliver substantially higher earnings, with the top programs starting graduates $8,000-$14,000 above Drake's figure. The $20,485 debt load is meaningfully lower than both state and national medians, which helps offset the earnings disadvantage, but it's not enough to close the value gap.

The 54% earnings growth from year one to year four is genuinely impressive and suggests the Drake network and degree carry increasing value over time. Graduates who start at $47,806 reach $73,716 by year four—a strong trajectory that demonstrates this program develops skills that command better compensation as careers progress. The low 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates aren't burdened by payments while they're climbing that earnings ladder.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's actual outcomes could vary considerably. For families paying Drake's private-school tuition, the fact that several Iowa competitors deliver better starting outcomes deserves serious consideration. This program works best for students who specifically value Drake's campus culture and can manage the tuition cost, understanding they'll likely catch up to peers earnings-wise by year four rather than immediately after graduation.