Accounting at Iowa State University

Iowa State's accounting program positions itself in an interesting middle ground—it beats the national median by nearly $5,000 and comes with manageable debt, but it trails most other Iowa accounting programs, landing below the state's median. Among Iowa's 23 accounting programs, graduates here earn less than at Drake ($65,922), University of Iowa ($65,373), and even smaller schools like Wartburg and Loras. That 40th percentile ranking in-state suggests Iowa families might find better value elsewhere without leaving home.

The fundamentals work in this program's favor: a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio is reasonable, and students graduate owing about $3,700 less than the typical Iowa accounting graduate. Starting at $58,479 with growth to $66,452 by year four represents solid progression. For out-of-state students or those choosing Iowa State for other reasons (campus life, major flexibility, the accessible 89% admission rate), these numbers won't derail their financial future.

The real question is whether Iowa State justifies itself against in-state alternatives. If your child is already drawn to Iowa State's campus in Ames and accounting is the plan, the program won't disappoint. But if maximizing accounting outcomes is the priority and University of Iowa or Drake are on the table, those programs deliver $7,000-$8,000 more in early earnings while maintaining similarly manageable debt loads.