Agricultural Business and Management at Iowa State University

Iowa State's Agricultural Business program outperforms 94% of similar programs nationwide, with first-year graduates earning $54,000—well above the national median of $48,000. This puts Iowa State among the elite programs in the field, though within Iowa it ranks more modestly at the 60th percentile, suggesting the state has several strong agricultural programs competing for top talent.

The debt picture is reasonable but not exceptional. At $17,000, graduates carry slightly less debt than the national average of $20,000, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31. This means graduates can expect to earn back their debt in roughly four months of work. Earnings growth of 11% over four years shows steady career progression, reaching nearly $60,000 by the fourth year post-graduation.

For families considering agricultural business, Iowa State delivers strong value despite its middle-tier ranking within the state. The combination of high national performance, reasonable debt levels, and Iowa State's agricultural reputation makes this a solid choice. The 89% admission rate means most qualified students can access this high-performing program, making it an accessible path to above-average earnings in the agricultural sector.