by our College Data Analytics TeamIf 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. Want to know more about a specific stat? Just click on its tile, and you’ll go to a page that goes more in-depth on that subject. You can also use the links below to go directly to any section on this page.
In the most recent reporting year, students from 29 majors graduated from Iowa State University.
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.