Forestry at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
IA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 03.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Forestry degree from Iowa State University of Science & Technology earn a median salary of $54,576 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $61,184. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$42,130
Typical Career
$54,576
Top Performers
$67,174
Estimated break-even: 10.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$364
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,548. Most students can comfortably afford about a $364 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Iowa buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Manufacturing, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$61,184
Nominal: $54,576 in Iowa (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $29,659 | $39,310 | $48,747 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $42,130 | $54,576 | $67,174 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $52,731 | $64,930 | $81,262 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $54,576 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IA, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $54,576 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $61,184 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for Forestry graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (16.2%), Manufacturing (14.4%), and Educational Services (11.3%). This diverse range of sectors suggests that graduates have multiple pathways for employment, enhancing their career prospects. The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree over a high-school-only path is approximately 10.2 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for students considering this field. Overall, the combination of solid earnings growth and diverse employment opportunities presents a favorable outlook for prospective Forestry students.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Forestry degree at Iowa State University of Science & Technology stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.