If you want to know more about Iowa State University, such as what majors does it offer, how diverse it is, how well it ranks, and more, this is your one-stop resource.
At Iowa State University, students can earn anything from certificates through the doctor’s degree - research/scholarship and professional practice.
| Degree Level | Offered |
|---|---|
| Certificate | ✓ |
| Associate | — |
| Bachelor’s | ✓ |
| Master’s | ✓ |
| Doctorate | ✓ |
Completions: 12,454 undergraduate · 3,132 graduate (15,586 total)
Here are the majors that graduate the most students at Iowa State University.
| Most Popular Majors | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi-Disciplinary Studies | 7,793 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | 369 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 276 |
| Marketing. | 271 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | 263 |
The following majors at Iowa State University have the strongest reported average salaries.
| Highest-Paying Majors | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | $74,299 |
| Computer Engineering. | $72,598 |
| Construction Engineering. | $71,580 |
| Computer Science. | $71,184 |
| Chemical Engineering. | $70,534 |
Explore the full list of majors at Iowa State University, sorted by study area.
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Disciplinary Studies | 7,793 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering. | 369 | $64,842 |
| Computer Engineering. ↳ Computer Software Engineering. · Computer Engineering, General. |
256 | $72,598 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. ↳ Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General. |
192 | $67,489 |
| Civil Engineering. ↳ Civil Engineering, General. |
148 | $63,131 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. ↳ Electrical and Electronics Engineering. |
98 | $74,299 |
| Industrial Engineering. | 96 | $70,137 |
| Chemical Engineering. | 81 | $70,534 |
| Engineering Mechanics. | 60 | NA |
| Agricultural Engineering. | 58 | $63,994 |
| Construction Engineering. | 54 | $71,580 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. ↳ Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. |
35 | NA |
| Materials Engineering. | 30 | $66,475 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | 13 | NA |
| Systems Engineering. | 9 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. ↳ Business Administration and Management, General. · Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. · Organizational Leadership. |
276 | $50,665 |
| Marketing. ↳ Marketing/Marketing Management, General. · Digital Marketing. |
271 | $44,875 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. ↳ Finance, General. |
244 | $51,055 |
| Accounting and Related Services. ↳ Accounting. |
173 | $54,041 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. ↳ Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other. · Actuarial Science. · Management Science. |
103 | NA |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. ↳ Meeting and Event Planning. · Hospitality Administration/Management, General. |
80 | $37,025 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations. ↳ Selling Skills and Sales Operations. |
67 | NA |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. ↳ Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. |
44 | NA |
| Human Resources Management and Services. ↳ Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. |
18 | NA |
| International Business. ↳ International Business/Trade/Commerce. |
14 | NA |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | 8 | NA |
| Real Estate. | 5 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Sciences. ↳ Animal Sciences, General. · Dairy Science. · Livestock Management. · Agricultural Animal Breeding. |
245 | $36,910 |
| Agricultural Business and Management. ↳ Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations. · Farm/Farm and Ranch Management. |
212 | $46,032 |
| Plant Sciences. ↳ Agronomy and Crop Science. · Horticultural Science. · Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding. |
165 | $50,846 |
| Veterinary Medicine. | 157 | NA |
| International Agriculture. | 51 | $31,292 |
| Agricultural Mechanization. ↳ Agricultural Mechanization, General. |
39 | $57,856 |
| Food Science and Technology. ↳ Food Science. |
28 | $49,538 |
| Agricultural Production Operations. ↳ Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production. · Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. · Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management. |
25 | NA |
| Agricultural Public Services. ↳ Agricultural and Extension Education Services. · Agricultural Communication/Journalism. |
22 | $51,533 |
| Soil Sciences. ↳ Soil Science and Agronomy, General. |
20 | NA |
| Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. ↳ Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health. · Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology. · Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology. · Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General. |
16 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. ↳ Biology/Biological Sciences, General. · Biomedical Sciences, General. |
222 | $27,897 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. ↳ Ecology. · Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. |
97 | $26,485 |
| Genetics. ↳ Genetics, General. |
46 | $30,438 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. ↳ Microbiology, General. · Immunology. |
37 | $35,690 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. ↳ Biochemistry. · Biophysics. |
31 | $29,313 |
| Botany/Plant Biology. ↳ Plant Physiology. · Plant Pathology/Phytopathology. |
13 | NA |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. ↳ Bioinformatics. |
11 | NA |
| Zoology/Animal Biology. ↳ Animal Physiology. · Entomology. |
8 | NA |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. ↳ Neuroscience. |
4 | NA |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. ↳ Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology. |
2 | NA |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology. ↳ Toxicology. |
1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. ↳ Information Technology. · Artificial Intelligence. |
253 | NA |
| Computer Science. | 188 | $71,184 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. ↳ Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. |
13 | NA |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. ↳ Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. |
3 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. ↳ Elementary Education and Teaching. · Early Childhood Education and Teaching. · College/Postsecondary/University Teaching. · Secondary Education and Teaching. · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. |
178 | $39,738 |
| Education, General. | 54 | $45,872 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. ↳ Agricultural Teacher Education. · Music Teacher Education. · Mathematics Teacher Education. |
49 | $40,888 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. ↳ Higher Education/Higher Education Administration. · Educational Leadership and Administration, General. |
44 | NA |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | 15 | NA |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design. ↳ Educational/Instructional Technology. |
5 | NA |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language. ↳ Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor. |
2 | NA |
| Special Education and Teaching. ↳ Special Education and Teaching, General. |
1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. ↳ Graphic Design. · Industrial and Product Design. · Interior Design. · Design and Visual Communications, General. |
263 | $37,065 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General. | 21 | $22,091 |
| Music. ↳ Music, General. |
10 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. ↳ Exercise Science and Kinesiology. |
240 | $32,074 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 234 | $33,251 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel and Textiles. ↳ Apparel and Textiles, General. |
92 | $41,681 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. ↳ Human Development and Family Studies, General. · Child Development. |
74 | $31,078 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General. | 35 | $38,447 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies. ↳ Family Resource Management Studies, General. |
15 | $37,468 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. ↳ Human Nutrition. |
4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. ↳ Public Relations/Image Management. · Advertising. · Technical and Scientific Communication. |
94 | $39,633 |
| Communication, General. ↳ Speech Communication and Rhetoric. |
66 | $38,232 |
| Journalism. | 42 | $34,913 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Human Computer Interaction. | 85 | NA |
| Sustainability Studies. | 38 | NA |
| Nutrition Sciences. | 27 | $29,014 |
| Computational Science. | 18 | NA |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. ↳ Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. |
5 | $37,622 |
| Gerontology. | 3 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government. ↳ Political Science and Government, General. |
64 | $35,620 |
| Economics. ↳ Economics, General. · Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. |
35 | $49,423 |
| Sociology. ↳ Sociology, General. |
35 | $35,205 |
| Anthropology. ↳ Anthropology, General. |
23 | $26,131 |
| Geography and Cartography. ↳ Geographic Information Science and Cartography. |
5 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry. ↳ Chemistry, General. · Analytical Chemistry. · Organic Chemistry. · Physical Chemistry. |
65 | $45,450 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. ↳ Meteorology. · Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General. |
28 | $33,650 |
| Physics. ↳ Physics, General. · Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. · Elementary Particle Physics. · Nuclear Physics. |
22 | NA |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. ↳ Geology/Earth Science, General. |
16 | $40,315 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics. ↳ Astrophysics. |
1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. ↳ Environmental Science. · Environmental Studies. |
92 | $28,217 |
| Forestry. ↳ Forest Sciences and Biology. |
28 | $39,406 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. ↳ Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management. |
5 | NA |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management. | 3 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics. ↳ Mathematics, General. |
61 | $47,736 |
| Statistics. ↳ Statistics, General. |
60 | NA |
| Applied Mathematics. ↳ Applied Mathematics, General. |
7 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences and Technology. ↳ Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology. |
99 | NA |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning. | 15 | $40,512 |
| Landscape Architecture. | 4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. ↳ Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. |
113 | $36,457 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. ↳ Dietetics/Dietitian. |
46 | $25,287 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. ↳ Athletic Training/Trainer. |
32 | NA |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. ↳ Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. |
15 | NA |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics. ↳ Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator. |
9 | NA |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. ↳ Health/Health Care Administration/Management. |
6 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering-Related Fields. ↳ Engineering/Industrial Management. |
87 | $61,647 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians. ↳ Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician. |
6 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 63 | $34,904 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. ↳ Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing. · Creative Writing. · Rhetoric and Composition. |
24 | $41,011 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. ↳ Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. |
76 | $34,790 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| History. ↳ History, General. |
66 | $32,633 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | 40 | $42,285 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. ↳ Linguistics. |
19 | $25,309 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations. ↳ Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare. |
42 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. ↳ Women's Studies. |
13 | NA |
| Area Studies. ↳ Area Studies, Other. |
11 | $31,963 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy. | 9 | NA |
| Religion/Religious Studies. | 9 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Public Administration. | 14 | NA |
Footnotes
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.