WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-7% vs national median208 grads tracked

Area Studies at Iowa State University of Science & Technology

Ranked 22nd of 67 bachelor's programs in Area Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,110
middle 50%: $25,392 – $49,539
Median · 5 years out
$57,427
middle 50%: $41,976 – $74,954
Median · 10 years out
$74,491
middle 50%: $53,793 – $110,938

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Area Studies (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Iowa State University of Science & Technology's bachelor's program in Area Studies earn a median $36,110 one year after graduating, rising to $74,491 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $61,940 for this field, ranking 22nd of 67 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,921 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Texas at Austin
$61,940 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$61,903 · 5 yrs out
Western Connecticut State University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Brandywine
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$59,550 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$57,971 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$57,248 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$57,075 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Lehman College
$56,764 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$56,069 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$56,029 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$55,935 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Iowa State University of Science & Technology

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$147,324 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,317 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,278 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$118,825 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$116,045 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$115,806 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$113,881 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$110,315 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,785 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,597 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$104,160 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,015 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
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Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
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