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Agricultural Business and Management at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,967/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (398,100 openings/yr)
ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #14 of 77 Agricultural Business and Management programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agricultural Business and Management graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $585K $576K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.9x 13.7x 12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.2x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,988
Out-of-state: $110,732 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,660
-73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,687
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $53,967/yr, edging above the $48,075 national average for Agricultural Business and Management — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 13.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,000 in median debt against $53,967 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #14 out of 77 programs, Iowa State University's Agricultural Business and Management program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $53,967 to $68,687 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 25,033 in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 77 schools offering Agricultural Business and Management →

Agricultural Business and Management at Other Schools

Cornell University ($92,163) University of Nebraska at Kearney ($61,152) North Dakota State University-Main Campus ($59,953) University of Missouri-Columbia ($58,335) Michigan State University ($57,023) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($55,934) University of Arkansas ($54,783) University of Wisconsin-Platteville ($54,473)

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,913) Computer Engineering ($79,182) Computer Science ($78,517) Construction Engineering ($77,845) Chemical Engineering ($76,184) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($75,036) Industrial Engineering ($74,310) Mechanical Engineering ($72,900)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Agricultural Business and Management trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa State University's Agricultural Business and Management program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Agricultural Business and Management graduates.
How vulnerable is Agricultural Business and Management to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Agricultural Business and Management careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Iowa State University rank so high for Agricultural Business and Management?
The #14 ranking out of 77 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →