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Iowa State University Majors Overview: Salary, Courses & Career Outcomes

Every major at Iowa State University with graduate salary, course catalog depth, and career preparation data.

#	Major	US Rank	Iowa State University Salary	National Median	Premium	Degrees/Year	Courses
1	Computer Science	—	$75,000	$75,000	0%	263	205
Featured Courses: BCB 5230: Mathematical Modeling in Biology BCB 5460: Computational Skills for Biological Data BCB 5670: Bioinformatics Algorithms BCB 5680: Statistical Bioinformatics BCB 5690: Structural Bioinformatics
2	Engineering	—	$72,000	$72,000	0%	1,323	1099
Featured Courses: AERE 1600: Aerospace Engineering Problems With Computer Applications Laboratory AERE 1600H: Aerospace Engineering Problems With Computer Applications Laboratory: Honors AERE 1610: Numerical, Graphical and Laboratory Techniques for Aerospace Engineering AERE 1610H: Numerical, Graphical and Laboratory Techniques for Aerospace Engineering: Honors AERE 1920: Aerospace Seminar
3	Mathematics & Statistics	—	$62,000	$62,000	0%	71	245
Featured Courses: ACSCI 3910: Actuarial Exam P Lab ACSCI 3920: Actuarial Exam FM Lab ACSCI 4010: Loss Models I ACSCI 4020: Credibility Theory MATH 1100: Orientation in Mathematics and Statistics
4	Engineering Technologies	—	$58,000	$58,000	0%	79	—
5	Business	—	$55,000	$55,000	0%	1,094	657
Featured Courses: ACCT 2150: Legal Environment of Business ACCT 2840: Financial Accounting ACCT 2850: Managerial Accounting ACCT 3010: The Accounting Cycle ACCT 3150: Business Data Streams and Issues
6	Health Professions	—	$52,000	$52,000	0%	63	324
Featured Courses: DH 5010: Research Methods and Ethics of Health Technology DH 5020: Foundations of Digital Health DH 5160: Analytics and AI for Health Strategies DH 5680: Behavioral Health and Technology: Strategies for Digital Adoption, Policy, and Impact DH 5690: Digital Health Solutions for Physical Activity and Health
7	Architecture	—	$48,000	$48,000	0%	100	283
Featured Courses: ARCH 2010: Architectural Design I ARCH 2010H: Architectural Design I: Honors ARCH 2020: Architectural Design II ARCH 2020H: Architectural Design II: Honors ARCH 2200: Contemporary Architecture
8	Physical Sciences	—	$48,000	$48,000	0%	70	274
Featured Courses: ASTRO 1020: North Star Astronomy ASTRO 1030: Evening Star ASTRO 1200: The Sky and the Solar System ASTRO 1500: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology ASTRO 3440L: Astronomy Laboratory
9	Social Sciences	—	$45,000	$45,000	0%	135	391
Featured Courses: ANTHR 2020: Human Origins ANTHR 2200: Globalization and Sustainability ANTHR 2250: American Indians of Iowa ANTHR 2300: Globalization and the Human Condition ANTHR 3060: Culture and Interpretation
10	Agriculture & Natural Resources	—	$42,000	$42,000	0%	591	438
Featured Courses: ANS 1010: Working with Animals ANS 1100: Orientation in Animal Science and ISU ANS 1140: Survey of the Animal Industry ANS 1160: Practicum in Safe Equine Handling and Welfare ANS 1230X: Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Life Sciences
11	Biological Sciences	—	$42,000	$42,000	0%	356	513
Featured Courses: BBMB 1100: Biochemistry Learning Community I BBMB 1110: Biochemistry Learning Community II BBMB 1200: The Biochemistry of Beer BBMB 1200L: Biochemistry of Beer Laboratory BBMB 1210: Medicines, Drugs and You
12	Homeland Security & Law Enforcement	—	$42,000	$42,000	0%	98	—
13	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$42,000	$42,000	0%	57	1
Featured Courses: IGS 5990: Creative Component
14	Communication & Journalism	—	$40,000	$40,000	0%	183	159
Featured Courses: ADVRT 2300: Advertising Principles ADVRT 3010: Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations ADVRT 3340: Advertising Creativity ADVRT 3350: Advertising Media Planning ADVRT 3360: Advertising Account Management
15	Natural Resources & Conservation	—	$40,000	$40,000	0%	101	162
Featured Courses: ENSCI 1100: Orientation to Environmental Science ENSCI 2020: Exploration of Environmental and Sustainability Issues ENSCI 2030: Exploration of Environmental Science ENSCI 2500: Environmental Geography ENSCI 2510: Biological Processes in the Environment
16	History	—	$40,000	$40,000	0%	50	133
Featured Courses: HIST 2110: Ancient Empires: From Sargon to Caesar HIST 2120: Medieval Kingdoms HIST 2130: The Global Era HIST 2210: Survey of United States History I HIST 2220: Survey of United States History II
17	Education	—	$38,000	$38,000	0%	295	515
Featured Courses: AGEDS 1100: Professional Development in Agricultural Education and Studies: New Student Seminar AGEDS 1110: Dean's Leadership Seminar AGEDS 1120: Agriculture Biotechnology Colloquium AGEDS 1150: Professional Development in Agricultural Education and Studies: Seminar AGEDS 1160: Initial Field Experience in Agricultural Education
18	Foreign Languages & Linguistics	—	$38,000	$38,000	0%	31	190
Featured Courses: ARABC 1010: Elementary Arabic I ARABC 1020: Elementary Arabic II ARABC 1950: Study Abroad ARABC 2010: Intermediate Arabic I ARABC 2020: Intermediate Arabic II
19	Philosophy & Religious Studies	—	$38,000	$38,000	0%	10	45
Featured Courses: PHIL 2300: Moral Theory and Practice PHIL 2350: Ethical Issues in a Diverse Society PHIL 2500X: Ethics and Civil Discourse PHIL 3100: Ancient Philosophy PHIL 3140: 17th Century Philosophy
20	Public Administration & Social Services	—	$38,000	$38,000	0%	10	—
21	Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies	—	$38,000	$38,000	0%	7	70
Featured Courses: AFAM 3100: Africa to 1880 AFAM 3110: Colonialism and Independence in Africa AFAM 3270: Strategies of Resistance: From Slavery to Hip-Hop & Black Lives Matter AFAM 3300: Ethnic and Race Relations AFAM 3340: Africana Religions
22	Psychology	—	$36,000	$36,000	0%	228	134
Featured Courses: PSYCH 1110: Orientation to Psychology PSYCH 1120: Psychology Learning Community Seminar PSYCH 1310: Academic Learning Skills PSYCH 2110: Career Opportunities in Psychology PSYCH 2210: Clinical and Counseling Psychology
23	English Language & Literature	—	$36,000	$36,000	0%	71	191
Featured Courses: ENGL 0990S: Nonnative Speaking ENGL 1010B: English for Native Speakers of Other Languages: Academic English ENGL 1010C: English for Native Speakers of Other Languages: Academic English II--Undergraduates ENGL 1010D: English for Native Speakers of Other Languages: Academic English II--Graduates ENGL 1200: Language and Technology
24	Parks, Recreation & Fitness	—	$35,000	$35,000	0%	250	51
Featured Courses: ATH 1010B: Intercollegiate Athletics: Basketball (men) ATH 1010C: Intercollegiate Athletics: Basketball (women) ATH 1010D: Intercollegiate Athletics: Cross Country (men) ATH 1010E: Intercollegiate Athletics: Cross Country (women) ATH 1010F: Intercollegiate Athletics: Football (men)
25	Family & Consumer Sciences	—	$35,000	$35,000	0%	144	128
Featured Courses: ECFP 5500: History of Child Development and Equity ECFP 5600: Examining Practices, Policies, and Key Issues ECFP 5700: Theory, Analysis & Research ECFP 5800: Policy, Leadership & Advocacy FFP 5200: Financial Theory and Research I
26	Liberal Arts & General Studies	—	$35,000	$35,000	0%	66	—
27	Visual & Performing Arts	—	$34,000	$34,000	0%	236	726
Featured Courses: AMD 5040: Innovative Textiles AMD 5050: Quality Assurance of Textiles and Apparel AMD 5090: Clothing Comfort: Theory and Practice AMD 5100: Foundation of Scholarship in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design AMD 5210: Digital Technologies in Textile and Apparel

Career Path Match at Iowa State University 🎖️ DeepColleges Exclusive

How many courses at Iowa State University align with each career direction. More relevant courses mean better preparation for your target career.

Pre-Med / Clinical Medicine 294

AGRON 2810: Crop Physiology AGRON 4850: Soil and Environmental Microbiology AGRON 5160: Crop Physiology AGRON 5380: Seed Physiology and the Environment AGRON 5850: Soil and Environmental Microbiology

Architecture & Spatial Design 198

AMD 5950: Senior Design Studio ARCH 2010: Architectural Design I ARCH 2010H: Architectural Design I: Honors ARCH 2020: Architectural Design II ARCH 2020H: Architectural Design II: Honors

Film & Video Production 140

ABE 3270L: Animal Production Systems Design Lab ABE 5150: Integrated Crop and Livestock Production Systems AGEDS 4900C: Business, Industry, and Production Agriculture AGRON 2800: Crop Development, Production and Management AGRON 5150: Integrated Crop and Livestock Production Systems

Education & Teaching 138

ABE 5740: Integrated Assessment Modeling and Science-Policy Integration for Global Environmental Change AGEDS 4250: Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education AGEDS 4900A: Philosophy, Curriculum, and Methods AGEDS 5250: Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education AGEDS 5900A: Curriculum

Management Consulting & Strategy 131

ACCT 5850: Taxes and Business Strategy ADVRT 3010: Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations ADVRT 3730X: Content Strategy for Media Brands ADVRT 4730: Social Media Strategy AGEDS 1110: Dean's Leadership Seminar

Biotechnology & Genetics 129

ABE 4510: Food and Bioprocess Engineering ABE 5110: Bioprocessing and Bioproducts ABE 5510: Food and Bioprocess Engineering AGEDS 1120: Agriculture Biotechnology Colloquium AGEDS 5930M: Biotechnology Workshop

Food Science & AgTech 119

ABE 6100: Foundations of Sustainable Agriculture AGRON 1810: Introduction to Crop Science AGRON 1820: Introduction to Soil Science AGRON 2020: Introduction to Digital and Precision Agriculture AGRON 3600: Environmental Soil Science

Sociology & Anthropology 95

AGEDS 4600: Capstone in Agricultural Studies - Multidisciplinary Option ANTHR 2010: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ANTHR 2200: Globalization and Sustainability ANTHR 2300: Globalization and the Human Condition ANTHR 3070: Biological Anthropology

Software Engineering 90

ABE 1600: Systematic Problem Solving and Computer Programming ABE 3270L: Animal Production Systems Design Lab ABE 5560: GIS Programming and Automation ARCH 5050: Architectural Design and Media I: Mapping, Programming, Building BCB 5670: Bioinformatics Algorithms

Entrepreneurship & Startups 84

ACCT 4610: Entrepreneurship and Accounting Information ACCT 5610: Entrepreneurship and Accounting Information AGEDS 4610: Innovation Diffusion and the Role of Agricultural and Extension Education AGEDS 4900G: Entrepreneurship AGEDS 5610: Innovation Diffusion and the Role of Agricultural and Extension Education

Climate & Earth Science 80

AGRON 4070: Mesoscale Meteorology AGRON 5070: Mesoscale Meteorology AGRON 5180: Microwave Remote Sensing AGRON 5990A: Agricultural Meteorology AGRON 6050: Boundary-Layer Meteorology

Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 78

AERE 3100: Aerodynamics I: Incompressible Flow AERE 3110: Aerodynamics II: Compressible Flow AERE 3440: Aerodynamics and Propulsion Laboratory AERE 3510: Astrodynamics I AERE 3550: Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Control

Investment Banking & Finance 78

AERE 4800: Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation ABE 4310: Design and Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Systems ABE 5310: Design and Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Systems AGEDS 4900B: Leadership, Evaluation, and Administration AGEDS 5240: Program Development and Evaluation in Agricultural and Extension Education

Linguistics & Translation 76

AGRON 3700: Field Experience in Soil Description and Interpretation ANTHR 3060: Culture and Interpretation BMS 5310: Principles of Morphology II BMS 7331: Principles of Morphology II EDUC 3775: Structured Literacy and Linguistics for Elementary Education

Mental Health & Clinical Psychology 73

ABE 5740: Integrated Assessment Modeling and Science-Policy Integration for Global Environmental Change AGRON 5700: Risk Assessment for Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine ATR 2280: Basic Orthopedic Assessment and Evaluation Principles BBMB 4970: Biochemistry Program Outcomes Assessment CHE 2050: Chemical Engineering Progress Assessment

Graphic & Visual Design 73

AGEDS 2270: Fundamentals of Visual Communication for Agriculture and Life Sciences AMD 5450: Consumer Experience and Retail Branding ART 3230: Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques ART 3270: Illustration as Communication ART 3370: Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques

Bioinformatics & Computational Biology 68

AGRON 5230: Plant Molecular Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology ANS 5560: Current Topics in Genome Analysis BBMB 5420E: Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques: Proteomics BBMB 5690: Structural Bioinformatics BBMB 5920: Workshop in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Music Industry & Production 64

AERE 2610: Introduction to Performance and Design AERE 4830: Aeroacoustics AERE 5830: Aeroacoustics ARCH 4510: Whole Building Energy Performance Modeling ARCH 5510: Whole Building Energy Performance Modeling

Marketing & Brand Strategy 63

ADVRT 2300: Advertising Principles ADVRT 3010: Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations ADVRT 3340: Advertising Creativity ADVRT 3350: Advertising Media Planning ADVRT 3360: Advertising Account Management

Fashion & Luxury Industry 62

AESHM 1700N: Supervised Work Experience I: Apparel AESHM 1750N: Financial Applications for Retail and Hospitality Industries: Retail Merchandising AESHM 1800N: First Year Student Field Study: Apparel, Merchandising, and Design AESHM 2700N: Supervised Work Experience II: Apparel AESHM 3110N: Seminar on Careers and Internships: Apparel, Merchandising, and Design

Environmental Engineering 57

ACCT 4890: Sustainability Reporting ACCT 5890: Sustainability Reporting ANTHR 2200: Globalization and Sustainability AMD 5650: Sustainability: Theory and Practical Application ARCH 5580: Sustainability and Green Architecture

AI / Machine Learning 56

ACCT 4420X: Generative AI in Business Decision-Making ACCT 5420X: Generative AI in Business Decision-Making AGRON 1230X: Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Life Sciences ANS 1230X: Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Life Sciences ANTHR 3160X: Anthropology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Chemical & Materials Engineering 52

ABE 4510: Food and Bioprocess Engineering ABE 5510: Food and Bioprocess Engineering ART 2040: Studio Fundamentals: Ceramics ART 3220: Intermediate Ceramics Studio ART 4930B: Workshop: Ceramics

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation 52

ARCH 5670: Preservation, Restoration, Rehabilitation, Cultural Heritage, and Technology ATR 2170: Clinical Practicum in Athletic Training I ATR 2180: Orientation to Athletic Training Clinical Experience ATR 2200: Basic Athletic Training ATR 2210: Pre-Athletic Training Clinical Practicum

Data Science & Analytics 50

ABE 5160: Data Science and Analytics for Agricultural and Biosystem Engineers AGRON 5130: Data Science for Agricultural Professionals ANS 5000A: Applied Data Science and Statistics using Statistical Software in Animal Sciences: SAS ANS 5000B: Applied Data Science and Statistics using Statistical Software in Animal Sciences: R AESHM 4790: Data Analytics for Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management

Supply Chain & Logistics 48

BUSAD 5040: Marketing and Logistics BUSAD 5990L: Creative Component: Supply Chain Management CE 3550: Principles of Transportation Engineering CE 3950: Global Perspectives in Transportation CE 4510: Urban Transportation Planning Models

Public Health & Epidemiology 43

DIET 5120: Nutritional Epidemiology DIET 5470: Functional Foods in Chronic Disease Prevention DIET 5550: Public Health Nutrition DH 5740: Digital Disease Management and Public Health FSHN 4670: Molecular Basis of Nutrition in Disease Etiology and Health Promotion

Public Policy & Government 42

ACCT 4880: Governmental and Non-profit Institution Accounting ACCT 5820: Corporate Governance and Top Management ACCT 5880: Governmental and Non-profit Institution Accounting BUSAD 5150: Corporate Government Affairs EDADM 6350: Ethical Governance and Policy

Mathematics & Pure Research 42

ABE 3400: Functional Analysis of Soil, Crop, and Machine Systems COMS 3500: Number Theory COMS 4180: Introduction to Computational Geometry COMS 4810: Numerical Methods for Differential Equations COMS 5180: Introduction to Computational Geometry

Psychology Research (Non-Clinical) 42

ARCH 5400: Regimes of Perception CPRE 5750: Computational Perception COMS 5750: Computational Perception FSHN 5080: Consumer Perceptions and Nutrition Communication GER 3710: The Holocaust in Text, Image, and Memory

Accounting & Audit 40

ACCT 2840: Financial Accounting ACCT 2850: Managerial Accounting ACCT 3010: The Accounting Cycle ACCT 3830: Intermediate Managerial Accounting ACCT 3840: Accounting Information Systems and Analytics

Actuarial Science & Insurance 40

ACSCI 3910: Actuarial Exam P Lab ACSCI 3920: Actuarial Exam FM Lab ACSCI 4010: Loss Models I AGRON 5700: Risk Assessment for Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine ANS 3800F: Marketing and Risk Management in the Swine Industry

Electrical & Hardware Engineering 37

CPRE 2810: Digital Logic CPRE 2880: Embedded Systems I: Introduction CPRE 4350: Analog VLSI Circuit Design CPRE 4650: Digital VLSI Design CPRE 4880: Embedded Systems Design

Cybersecurity 34

CPRE 3250: Machine Learning for Electrical Computer and Cybersecurity Engineering CPRE 4360: Digital Forensics CPRE 4590: Security and Privacy in Cloud Computing CPRE 5330: Cryptography CPRE 5370: Wireless Network Security

Biomedical Engineering 34

BME 1040: Biomedical Engineering First-Year Learning Community BME 1600: Biomedical Engineering Problems with Computer Applications Laboratory BME 2010: Faculty-guided Professional Development in Biomedical Engineering BME 2200: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering BME 2700: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Design

Journalism & Media 34

AERE 3100: Aerodynamics I: Incompressible Flow AERE 3110: Aerodynamics II: Compressible Flow AERE 5320: Compressible Fluid Flow AERE 5410: Incompressible Flow Aerodynamics ART 2120: Studio Fundamentals: Digital Media

Aerospace Engineering 33

AERE 1600: Aerospace Engineering Problems With Computer Applications Laboratory AERE 1600H: Aerospace Engineering Problems With Computer Applications Laboratory: Honors AERE 1610: Numerical, Graphical and Laboratory Techniques for Aerospace Engineering AERE 1610H: Numerical, Graphical and Laboratory Techniques for Aerospace Engineering: Honors AERE 1920: Aerospace Seminar

Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research 33

BBMB 5490: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy CHEM 2310: Elementary Organic Chemistry CHEM 2310L: Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry CHEM 3010: Inorganic Chemistry CHEM 3210L: Laboratory in Physical Chemistry

Sports Analytics & Management 33

ANS 3130: Exercise Physiology of Animals ATR 2170: Clinical Practicum in Athletic Training I ATR 2180: Orientation to Athletic Training Clinical Experience ATR 2200: Basic Athletic Training ATR 2210: Pre-Athletic Training Clinical Practicum

Game Development & Design 32

ABE 4400: Modeling and Simulation of Soil-Crop-Machine Systems ABE 5400: Modeling and Simulation of Soil-Crop-Machine Systems ART 4090: Computer/Video Game Design and Development ART 5090: Computer/Video Game Design and Development CE 6500D: Advanced Topics in Transportation Engineering: Traffic Simulation

Economics & Economic Research 32

ECON 1010: Principles of Microeconomics ECON 1010L: Laboratory in Principles of Microeconomics ECON 1020: Principles of Macroeconomics ECON 2720: Applied Econometrics I ECON 3010: Intermediate Microeconomics

Nonprofit & Social Impact 30

AGEDS 6150C: Grant Writing ANTHR 3540: War and the Politics of Humanitarianism AMD 5620X: Fashion Studies, Culture, Industry, and Social Justice COMDV 5030: Community Development Methods COMDV 5300: Community Development Practicum

Pharmacy & Drug Development 28

ANS 5690: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology BMS 4390: Principles of Pharmacology BMS 5390: Principles of Pharmacology BMS 5430: Pharmacology and Therapeutics BMS 5540: General Pharmacology

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure 27

CE 3340: Reinforced Concrete Design I CE 3550: Principles of Transportation Engineering CE 3600: Geotechnical Engineering CE 3720: Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics CE 3820: Design of Concretes

Space Industry & NewSpace 27

AERE 3620: Aerospace Systems Integration AERE 4620: Design of Aerospace Systems AGRON 5180: Microwave Remote Sensing EE 4890: Survey of Remote Sensing Technologies EE 4890L: Satellite Remote Sensing Laboratory

Physics & Astrophysics 26

ASTRO 1500: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology ASTRO 3460: Introduction to Astrophysics ASTRO 4050: Astrophysical Cosmology ASTRO 5050: Astrophysical Cosmology ASTRO 5800: Stellar Astrophysics

Real Estate & Development 23

ACCT 5710: Real Estate Law ABE 2730: CAD for Process Facilities and Land Use Planning AGRON 2820: Soil Conservation and Land Use CDEV 5210: Housing and Development ECON 3640: Rural Property Appraisal

Robotics & Autonomous Systems 21

AERE 3310: Flight Control Systems I AERE 5760: Digital Feedback Control Systems ARCH 4380: Architectural Robotics ARCH 5380: Architectural Robotics CPRE 2880: Embedded Systems I: Introduction

Neuroscience & Brain Research 20

BBMB 6610: Advanced Topics in Neuroscience BIOL 4360: Neurobiology BMS 5370: Neuroanatomy BMS 5560: Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience BMS 7337: Neuroanatomy

UX / Product Design 18

COMS 3190: Construction of User Interfaces DES 2300: Design Thinking ENGL 5050: User Experience Architecture and Testing ENGL 5490: Multimedia and Interaction Design FDM 4960: Soft-Goods Product Development and Prototyping

Cloud Computing & DevOps 18

CE 5590: Transportation Infrastructure/Asset Management CPRE 4500: Distributed Systems and Middleware CPRE 4540: Distributed Systems CPRE 4590: Security and Privacy in Cloud Computing CPRE 5430: Wireless Network Architecture

International Relations & Diplomacy 17

ECON 3550: International Trade and Finance ECON 4550: International Trade ECON 6550: International Trade MGMT 4220: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution MGMT 5220: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Marine & Ocean Science 13

BIOL 3600X: Marine Biology BIOL 3750: Marine Ecology and Ecosystems Dynamics BIOL 4800: Studies in Marine Biology ENSCI 3750: Marine Ecology and Ecosystems Dynamics ENVS 1080: Introduction to Oceanography

Clean Energy & Sustainability Engineering 12

AERE 5110: Wind Energy System Design ABE 3880: Sustainable Engineering and International Development CE 3880: Sustainable Engineering and International Development CPRE 5390: Cyber Physical System Security for the Smart Grid EE 3880: Sustainable Engineering and International Development

Quantum Computing 10

CHEM 3240: Introductory Quantum Mechanics CHEM 5610: Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics CHEM 5620: Fundamentals of Atomic and Molecular Quantum Mechanics COMS 4340: Quantum Information and Complexity COMS 5340: Quantum Information and Complexity

Digital Health & Telemedicine 9

BME 4600X: Biomedical Imaging DH 5010: Research Methods and Ethics of Health Technology DH 5020: Foundations of Digital Health DH 5690: Digital Health Solutions for Physical Activity and Health DH 5710: Health Data Management and Interoperability

AR / VR / Spatial Computing 8

CPRE 5570: Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling COMS 3360: Introduction to Computer Graphics COMS 5570: Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling COMS 6570: Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics and Interactive Computing HCI 5400X: Internet-Based Methods, Extended Reality, and Machine Learning for use in Engineering Design and Data Analysis

Pre-Law / Legal Studies 6

AFAM 4730: Civil Rights and Ethnic Power HIST 4730: Civil Rights and Ethnic Power PHIL 3220X: Legal Reasoning and Jurisprudence POLS 3220X: Legal Reasoning and Jurisprudence POLS 4200: Constitutional Law

ESG & Impact Investing 4

ACCT 4890: Sustainability Reporting ACCT 5890: Sustainability Reporting ENTSP 6200L: Stakeholder Theory in Entrepreneurship Research MGMT 4190: Social Responsibility of Business

FinTech & Blockchain 2

MIS 4100: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency MIS 5100: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Highest & Lowest ROI Majors at Iowa State University

Highest-Earning Majors

Computer Science

$75,000/yr

Engineering

$72,000/yr

Mathematics & Statistics

$62,000/yr

Lowest-Earning Majors

Visual & Performing Arts

$34,000/yr

Liberal Arts & General Studies

$35,000/yr

Family & Consumer Sciences

$35,000/yr

Popular Majors at Iowa State University

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Engineering

20.5%

Business/Marketing

19.4%

Agriculture

9.5%

Biological Sciences

5.6%

Education

5.4%

Best Majors at Iowa State University →

Iowa State University Majors FAQs

What are the most popular majors at Iowa State University?

Iowa State University's most popular majors by share of degrees awarded are: Engineering (20.5%), Business/Marketing (19.4%), Agriculture (9.5%). The full ranking by graduate salary is in the table above.

Which major at Iowa State University pays the most?

The highest-earning major at Iowa State University is Computer Science, with a median 4-year-out salary of $75,000 — well above the school-wide median of $63,386.

Are some majors at Iowa State University harder to get into than others?

Yes. Iowa State University's overall acceptance rate is 89.1%, but selective programs (computer science, business, engineering, nursing) often admit at lower rates than the school-wide average. Check program-specific admission stats where available.

Should I pick my major based on salary at Iowa State University?

Salary should be one factor, not the only one. Major choice impacts earnings (engineering and CS typically lead) but career fit, course interest, and graduation-rate within the major also matter. The salary table above shows the median pay by program at Iowa State University.