Management Information Systems and Services at Drake University

Management Information Systems programs typically deliver solid early-career outcomes, and the estimated figures here—$59,490 in first-year earnings against $26,581 in debt—suggest Drake's program should follow that pattern. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, graduates would need roughly 45% of their first year's salary to clear their student loans, which is manageable for a tech-adjacent field. The University of Northern Iowa's MIS graduates earn a nearly identical $58,197, confirming that Iowa's job market supports reasonable starting salaries for these skills.

The estimated debt is somewhat higher than both the state median ($22,500) and national median ($24,000) for MIS programs, likely reflecting Drake's private school premium. Whether that extra $2,000-4,000 in loans translates to stronger career networks, better employer connections, or enhanced technical skills isn't clear from the data we have. What we do know is that MIS degrees generally lead to practical, in-demand careers—business analyst, IT project manager, systems consultant—where technical competence matters more than pedigree.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound: estimated earnings that align with state and national norms paired with debt that's elevated but not prohibitive. The real question is whether Drake's smaller program (hence the suppressed data) offers advantages—personalized faculty attention, tight-knit alumni networks—that justify the higher borrowing compared to more established Iowa alternatives.