Business/Commerce at Wartburg College

Wartburg's business graduates earn $54,652 in their first year—about $7,000 more than the national median for business majors and roughly $2,700 above Iowa's state median. Among Iowa's dozen business programs, this ranks solidly in the 60th percentile, trailing only Mount Mercy among schools with similar accessibility. The $27,000 median debt translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, meaning graduates typically owe about half their starting salary.

The earnings trajectory looks stable, with graduates seeing 12% income growth to $61,080 by year four. That's solid progression for a business degree from a small liberal arts college with a 99% acceptance rate. The program punches above its weight nationally—hitting the 75th percentile for business earnings despite Wartburg's open-door admissions and modest SAT averages.

For Iowa families, this represents a practical path into business careers without gambling on prestige. The debt load sits right at the state median while delivering above-median earnings, which means your child gets better outcomes than most Iowa business students for the same price. Just understand you're paying for solid regional opportunities, not Wall Street recruitment.