Apparel and Textiles at Iowa State University

Iowa State's Apparel and Textiles program significantly outperforms the national landscape but trails the only other Iowa option. Starting at $40,849, graduates earn about $4,000 more than the national median and land in the 85th percentile nationally—a strong showing. However, within Iowa, they're at the 40th percentile, earning roughly $2,000 less than University of Northern Iowa graduates. The $23,204 in median debt is slightly lower than both national and state figures, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.57.

The 19% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, pushing median pay to nearly $49,000 by year four. That growth trajectory suggests graduates are advancing beyond entry-level retail positions into roles with more responsibility. The robust sample size makes these numbers reliable, and the program's accessibility (89% admission rate) means most applicants who are interested will get in.

For Iowa families, this comes down to practicality: if University of Northern Iowa is an option, it appears to deliver slightly better outcomes. If Iowa State is the better fit for other reasons—location, campus culture, or broader course offerings—the debt load is reasonable enough that the earnings difference shouldn't be a dealbreaker. Nationally, this program delivers solid value, especially compared to apparel programs at schools where graduates struggle to break $37,000.