What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Iowa
Iowa offers a variety of job opportunities for residents with undergraduate degrees. The largest industry in the state is trade, transportation, and utilities, accounting for well over 300,000 people in Iowa’s workforce. Other top industries include goods-producing services, government, education and health services, and manufacturing.
There are nearly 150 fast-growing occupations in Iowa for those with undergraduate degrees. Among the top five occupations are operations research analysts, information security analysts, actuaries, loan officers, and personal financial advisors. The demand for workers in these careers is projected to grow significantly between 2016 and 2026.
Iowa is home to numerous large corporations, which may help college graduates transition into a full-time career. University of Iowa Health Care’s Carver College of Medicine is the largest employer in the state with approximately 11,000 employees. Other large employers include Principal Financial Group, Inc. and Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines and Collins Aerospace and CRST International in Cedar Rapids. Visit the page to see the full list of the top 50 employers in Iowa.
What’s Next?
Iowa residents pursuing undergraduate degrees may have access to need- and merit-based financial aid options through federal, state, and local agencies. The following resources provide information on available grants, loans, and scholarships:
- Iowa College Student Aid Commission. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission promotes access to higher learning for all Iowans through a dozen scholarship, grant, and loan forgiveness programs. Through the website, visitors can learn about and apply for financial aid.
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education uses FAFSA to determine an individual’s eligibility for federal need-based scholarships, grants, and education loans. To find out if you’re eligible to fill out a FAFSA application, follow this link, or click here to apply online.
- CareerOneStop. Backed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop is a valuable resource for Iowans researching their options for funding their education. Through this website, visitors can identify grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and low-interest loans. Search results can be filtered by location and degree level.