International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Iowa State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated

$49,890

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Est. Median DebtEstimated

$21,500

Est. from national median (61 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

Iowa State's International Business bachelor's likely costs around $21,500 in debt—slightly below the national median for this major—while comparable programs nationwide suggest first-year earnings near $49,890. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 falls comfortably within the manageable range, meaning graduates could reasonably expect to earn more than twice their debt load in their first year. For context, this ratio sits well below the 1.0 threshold that financial aid experts typically flag as problematic.

The challenge here is that Iowa State didn't report its own outcomes because too few graduates participated in the survey, forcing us to rely on national patterns from over 100 similar programs. International Business programs vary significantly in quality and outcomes depending on factors like internship networks, corporate partnerships, and regional industry presence. Iowa State's strong Midwest placement and its College of Business reputation suggest potential upside, but without school-specific data, you're making an educated guess rather than an informed decision based on this institution's actual track record.

If your child is set on Iowa State, contact the business school directly for employment reports and ask about placement rates with multinational firms. The estimated numbers suggest this could be a reasonable investment, but given the 89% admission rate and absence of verified outcomes data, confirm that Iowa State's specific program delivers the international career connections that justify choosing this major over general business administration.

Where Iowa State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all international business bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

International Business bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Iowa State UniversityAmes	$10,497	$49,890*	—	$21,500*	—
Georgetown UniversityWashington	$65,081	$81,800*	$101,821	$14,447*	0.18
Northeastern UniversityBoston	$63,141	$80,848*	$91,133	$25,729*	0.32
Villanova UniversityVillanova	$64,701	$74,529*	$86,976	$22,250*	0.30
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$71,369*	$61,843	$27,195*	0.38
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia	$12,688	$70,992*	$89,299	$25,174*	0.35
National Median	—	$49,890*	—	$23,472*	0.47

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with international business graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Business Operations Specialists, All Other

All business operations specialists not listed separately.

Business Continuity Planners

Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Plan, conduct, and debrief regular mock-disaster exercises to test the adequacy of existing plans and strategies, updating procedures and plans regularly. Act as a coordinator for continuity efforts after a disruption event.

Sustainability Specialists

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

Online Merchants

Conduct retail activities of businesses operating exclusively online. May perform duties such as preparing business strategies, buying merchandise, managing inventory, implementing marketing activities, fulfilling and shipping online orders, and balancing financial records.

Security Management Specialists

Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security or the safety of employees and facilities.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Iowa State University, approximately 18% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 103 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.