Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Iowa State University

Iowa State's entrepreneurship program sits in an awkward middle ground: it beats the national median by about $1,100, but lags behind the typical Iowa program by roughly $1,400. More concerning, it falls in the 40th percentile among Iowa schools—meaning 60% of similar programs in-state deliver better starting salaries. For parents comparing options within Iowa, schools like Buena Vista University show entrepreneurs can earn $2,700 more right out of the gate, though you'd want to verify their debt loads before making direct comparisons.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $21,500, graduates carry about $2,750 less than the Iowa median and nearly $3,000 below the national average, resulting in a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio. That lower burden matters for entrepreneurs who might need financial flexibility to start ventures or weather the income variability common in small business.

However, the sample size here is tiny—under 30 graduates—which means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few outliers. For a major research university with 89% admission rates, these middling results suggest the program may not be leveraging Iowa State's full resources. If your child is serious about entrepreneurship and staying in Iowa, compare carefully against other in-state options that show stronger earnings outcomes.