Marketing at University of Iowa

University of Iowa's marketing program stands out nationally but competes in a surprisingly strong Iowa market. With first-year earnings of $52,895, graduates earn 18% more than the national median and rank in the 87th percentile nationally—impressive for a public university with an 85% admission rate. However, among Iowa's 15 marketing programs, this ranks only in the 60th percentile, just above state median. That's not a weakness of the program; it reflects Iowa's unusually competitive landscape where even regional schools like Upper Iowa deliver strong outcomes.

The financial picture looks solid. At $25,000 in debt—near both national and state medians—graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, meaning they earn roughly twice what they owe. That's manageable by any standard. Earnings also grow steadily to $63,149 by year four, a 19% increase that suggests marketing skills translate into career progression. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these figures reliable, not statistical noise.

For Iowa families paying in-state tuition, this program delivers strong value: above-average earnings with average debt, backed by a well-resourced flagship university. You're not getting the absolute highest Iowa marketing salaries, but you're getting excellent national placement with reasonable financial risk.