Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at Drake University

Drake University's quantitative methods graduates earn $80,044 in their first year—nearly 30% above the national median and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. More importantly for Iowa families, this significantly outpaces the state median of $59,682 and trails only the University of Iowa among in-state options. The $23,979 in typical debt translates to a manageable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can expect to earn more than three times their debt in their first year alone.

The earnings trajectory reinforces this program's strength: graduates see their income jump 28% to over $102,000 by year four. While the sample size is moderate (30-100 graduates), this consistent pattern suggests the program delivers practical skills that employers value and compensate accordingly. The data represents a broad enough cohort to be meaningful, even if not definitive.

For Iowa families weighing the investment, Drake's premium over Iowa State or smaller private colleges appears justified by the outcomes. At roughly $24,000 in debt, you're looking at one of the stronger return-on-investment scenarios in business analytics education, particularly for students who want to stay in the Midwest rather than relocate to coastal tech hubs. The program punches well above its weight given Drake's 64% admission rate.