Executive MBA

Executive MBA at Iowa State University

Public university ยท Ames, Iowa

  • AACSB accredited
  • MBA
  • Executive MBA
  • Part-Time MBA

Iowa State University is a public university with graduate business programs in Ames, Iowa. Those programs run through the Ivy College of Business. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The business school holds AACSB accreditation. It is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States, and it covers the school as a whole rather than any one program - a floor, not a ranking. More on accreditation.

Federal reporting puts graduate enrollment at 4,752 students, alongside 25,367 undergraduates. Total enrollment is not MBA cohort size - ask the admissions office how many students are in the specific program you're considering, which is usually a far smaller number and the one that shapes your experience.

Based on MBA Lab's directory data, the school offers a graduate MBA path, an executive MBA (EMBA) format designed for experienced professionals, and a part-time or evening MBA format for students who keep working. That puts it among the 1 of 4 schools in MBA Lab's Iowa directory listing an executive MBA. Format availability changes; confirm the current lineup with the school before planning around it.

What to ask Iowa State University

These questions are picked from what MBA Lab's data already says about this school, so they're the ones most likely to surface a real difference between it and the next school on your list.

  • Residency and tuition tier. As a public institution, Iowa State University may price in-state and out-of-state students differently, and some programs charge a flat rate regardless. Ask which tier you'd fall into and whether it changes after a year of residency.
  • Cohort experience level. An EMBA's value is largely the room. Ask for the average years of work experience, the seniority mix, and how many classmates are employer-sponsored - a cohort of directors and a cohort of five-years-in analysts are different products at the same price.
  • Pace flexibility. Ask how long students typically take, whether you can drop to one class during a heavy work quarter without penalty, and how late evening sections actually run against your commute from work.
  • Where the degree is administered. Programs run through the Ivy College of Business may have their own admissions timeline, aid pool, and career office, separate from the university's central graduate school. Confirm which office owns your application.
  • Ask for the school's own outcome numbers. The federal figures on this page cover business master's graduates who took federal aid, pooled across several years. The school's employment report will be narrower and more current - ask for it by program and by graduating class, not a blended average.

At a glance

InstitutionIowa State University
Business schoolIvy College of Business
Controlpublic
LocationAmes, Iowa
Campus settingSmall city
Carnegie classDoctoral university, very high research activity (R1)
MBA formats listed MBA Executive MBA Part-Time MBA
Graduate enrollment4,752
Undergraduate enrollment25,367
Business accreditation AACSB — view listing
Institutional accreditationHigher Learning Commission
Official site Visit website
Net price calculator Estimate your cost
Federal data College Scorecard profile

School names, locations, and program formats are curated by MBA Lab and reviewed periodically (last data update: August 2026). Enrollment, accreditation, links, and any outcome figures come from U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Always verify formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. How this data works.

Programs at Iowa State University

Details below come from Iowa State University's own program pages, not from a ranking service or an aggregator. Each card links to the page it was read from and the date it was last checked, so you can confirm anything before you plan around it.

Executive MBA

Executive MBA
$75,456
  • Length 18 months
  • Credits 48
  • Delivery Hybrid
  • Meets Once every three weeks
What that price isAll-inclusive program cost
Price includesCourses, speakers, events, and group activities; textbooks and materials; meals during class sessions; parking on class days; and two study trips (Washington, D.C., and an international business experience)
Class scheduleOpens with a week of on-campus orientation in Ames, then classes meet once every three weeks on Friday and Saturday in Ames, with interim online interaction between sessions
Residencies and travelA Washington, D.C. study trip and an international business trip

Professional MBA

Part-Time MBA
$31,500
  • Length 24 months
  • Credits 42
  • Delivery Hybrid (~80% in-person at the Des Moines JMPEC location, 20% online) with a fully-online option also available
  • Meets Rolling admission — new cohorts start fall, spring, and summer semesters
What that price is$750 per credit hour, flat rate regardless of residency, for the 42-credit program (42 x $750 = $31,500) — distinct from the Full-Time MBA's resident/non-resident rates.
On lengthTypically 24 months; accelerated completion in as few as 18 months possible; rolling admission allows self-paced progress.
Class scheduleOne class meeting per week in person in downtown Des Moines (hybrid option); evening format

Reported outcomes

Median earnings, 1 year out $94,720 Median of 49 graduates working one year after completion +9% vs. the $87,219 median across MBA Lab's directory
Median earnings, 4 years out $123,109 Median of 79 graduates working four years after completion +30% against the 1-year figure - two separate cohorts measured at different times, not one group's career path
Median federal graduate debt $22,707 About 0.24x the 1-year earnings median. Federal loans only - private loans, employer sponsorship, and savings aren't counted

What these numbers are. Figures cover graduates of master's-level programs in Business Administration, Management and Operations (CIP 52.02) who received federal financial aid. At some institutions that group includes business master's degrees other than the MBA, and it never includes graduates who took no federal aid - so these are a directional signal about a school's business master's programs, not an MBA salary report. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Check Iowa State University's Scorecard profile. Full methodology.

Want to see what these figures could mean for your own timeline? Try the free MBA ROI calculator, prefilled with Iowa State University's context.

This school in other directories

Frequently asked questions

What MBA formats does Iowa State University offer?

MBA Lab's directory lists an executive MBA and a part-time MBA at Iowa State University, alongside the core MBA. Formats change - confirm the current lineup on the school's official site.

How much does the Executive MBA at Iowa State University cost?

Iowa State University lists $75,456 for the Executive MBA. All-inclusive program cost. Price includes: Courses, speakers, events, and group activities; textbooks and materials; meals during class sessions; parking on class days; and two study trips (Washington, D.C., and an international business experience). Checked against the school's own page on July 27, 2026; costs change, so confirm before you apply.

How long is the Executive MBA at Iowa State University, and when does it meet?

The Executive MBA takes about 18 months, requires 48 credits, and is delivered in a hybrid format. Classes meet: Opens with a week of on-campus orientation in Ames, then classes meet once every three weeks on Friday and Saturday in Ames, with interim online interaction between sessions

How much does the Professional MBA at Iowa State University cost?

Iowa State University lists $31,500 for the Professional MBA. $750 per credit hour, flat rate regardless of residency, for the 42-credit program (42 x $750 = $31,500) — distinct from the Full-Time MBA's resident/non-resident rates. Checked against the school's own page on July 27, 2026; costs change, so confirm before you apply.

How long is the Professional MBA at Iowa State University, and when does it meet?

The Professional MBA takes about 24 months and requires 42 credits. Typically 24 months; accelerated completion in as few as 18 months possible; rolling admission allows self-paced progress. Classes meet: One class meeting per week in person in downtown Des Moines (hybrid option); evening format

What do graduates of Iowa State University's business master's programs earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of $94,720 one year after completion for graduates of master's-level Business Administration programs at Iowa State University who received federal financial aid. Four years out the reported median is $123,109. That group can include business master's degrees other than the MBA, and excludes graduates who took no federal aid, so treat it as a directional signal rather than an MBA salary figure.

How much debt do students take on at Iowa State University?

The reported median federal graduate debt is $22,707 for business master's graduates at Iowa State University. Against the reported one-year earnings median, that is about 0.24x a year of earnings. Federal loans are only part of the cost picture - it excludes private loans, employer sponsorship, and savings.

Is Iowa State University's business school AACSB-accredited?

Yes - Iowa State University appears on AACSB's list of accredited institutions. AACSB, founded in 1916, is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States (the others are ACBSP and IACBE). Accreditation covers the school, not any individual program, so treat it as a quality floor rather than a ranking.

Is Iowa State University a public or private institution?

Iowa State University is a public university, and MBA Lab lists its graduate business programs in Ames, Iowa. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How do I compare Iowa State University with other schools in Iowa?

Use a consistent rubric: curriculum, recruiting outcomes, format fit, cost after aid, and location constraints.

Where should I verify program details?

Always confirm formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. MBA Lab is a planning directory, not an admissions authority, and does not endorse specific schools.

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