Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,512
Est. from IA median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,375
Est. from IA median (5 programs)

Analysis

Iowa's human resources programs show significant variation in graduate outcomes, with first-year earnings ranging from around $48,000 to nearly $78,000 depending on the institution. Saint Ambrose's estimated figures—$49,512 in earnings and $27,375 in debt—place it squarely in the middle of this range, tracking closely with both state and national medians for HR bachelor's programs. Since these numbers are derived from peer programs rather than Saint Ambrose's actual graduates, they represent a reasonable baseline expectation rather than a guarantee.

The 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests a manageable repayment scenario if the estimates hold true, with debt sitting at about half of first-year income. That's workable under standard repayment plans, though not exceptional. What's harder to gauge is whether Saint Ambrose delivers outcomes closer to the state median or whether it might perform like top-tier Iowa programs such as Waldorf (nearly $78,000) or the University of Iowa ($53,000). The school's 73% admission rate and moderate Pell enrollment (28%) don't immediately signal either elite outcomes or warning flags.

The safe assumption here is that your student would land somewhere near the Iowa median for HR programs—decent but unremarkable returns. If Saint Ambrose has specific employer connections or internship pipelines in HR, those practical factors could matter more than these estimates. Without actual graduate data, you're betting on this program performing at least as well as comparable Iowa schools.

Where Saint Ambrose University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (14 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport$35,598$49,512*$27,375*
Waldorf UniversityForest City$25,220$77,897*$68,524$32,111*0.41
University of IowaIowa City$10,964$52,945*$67,540$23,149*0.44
Grand View UniversityDes Moines$33,450$49,917*$63,128$27,375*0.55
Upper Iowa UniversityFayette$19,000$49,106*$48,961$41,006*0.84
Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids$39,070$48,722*$52,422$29,225*0.60
National Median$50,361*$26,625*0.53
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/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:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
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 Saint Ambrose University, approximately 28% 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 median of 6 similar programs in IA. Actual outcomes may vary.