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Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,374/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (447,800 openings/yr)
ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #24 of 67 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $512K $510K $475K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 12.1x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.6x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 52

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 (4.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,660
-73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,750
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Iowa State University's Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program produces graduates earning $46,374/yr — within striking distance of the $44,903 national average for this field.

The 12.1x 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 — 50% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,750 in median debt clears quickly against $46,374 in annual earnings.

Ranked #24 out of 67 programs, Iowa State University's Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Iowa State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Iowa State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 25,033 in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
General and operations managers $102,950/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 67 schools offering Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations →

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Other Schools

Boston College ($74,446) Brown University ($67,900) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($65,177) Texas Christian University ($65,028) University of Arizona ($64,211) Brigham Young University ($64,061) Elon University ($62,626) Utah Valley University ($60,448)

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)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa State University's Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program score?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.
How vulnerable is Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →