Business Administration Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Des Moines is approximately $53,360, growing to $80,960 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,977/yr
Private Tuition
$38,388/yr
Room & Board
$8,658/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,739/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
56%
Business Administration Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Des Moines tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,977 | Private avg: $38,388
Des Moines avg aid: $9,739/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,540
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,160
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$527,460
Lifetime earnings premium ($598,000) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Business Administration
Drake University
private
$45,520/yr
$182,080 total
Grand View University
private
$31,256/yr
$125,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Des Moines Area Community College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$58K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$46K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$49K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$55K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$57K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$56K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$48K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$50K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Des Moines
Business Analytics
$72K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$57K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Des Moines — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Des Moines.