Architectural Sciences and Technology at Iowa State University

Iowa State's architectural sciences program reports strong outcomes—$57,928 in first-year earnings with $31,000 in debt—but there's a catch: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, making them less reliable than data from larger programs. That said, if these figures hold, they're impressive: earnings land at the 89th percentile nationally (well above the $49,261 national median) while debt sits at just the 5th percentile. The 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would pay roughly half their first-year salary to clear their loans, a manageable burden for a technical field.

The state comparison is less useful here since Iowa State appears to be the only school reporting data for this specific program in Iowa. What matters more is the national picture, where this program significantly outperforms most alternatives. At an 89% admission rate, Iowa State isn't highly selective, yet this program's graduates start $8,600 ahead of the typical architectural sciences grad nationally—suggesting the curriculum or Iowa State's industry connections deliver real value.

The small sample size means a few high or low earners could skew these figures considerably. If your child is seriously considering this program, ask the department for more granular data—ideally, three to five years of outcomes. But if these numbers reflect reality, this represents solid preparation for architecture and construction careers without crushing debt.