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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2021
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2018-19 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2021.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
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How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $18,478 and the average private school would be $24,446. You can also get information on specific Iowa schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
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Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
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What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
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The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
| Total Cost at University of Iowa (2018-19) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $8,965 |
| Room and Board | $10,450 |
| Books | $950 |
| Other Expenses | $2,242 |
| Total | $22,607 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2018-19 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2021. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
| College Total Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | IA Public $22,120 | IA Private $49,813 |
| $0 - $30k | $11,262 | $19,279 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $12,804 | $19,557 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $16,054 | $20,894 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $18,478 | $24,446 |
| $110,001+ | $19,539 | $27,993 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Iowa public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $5,000-$9,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Iowa. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public IA Schools Cost Breakdown
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Iowa State University
Ames Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,988 $9,320 Room and Board $8,720 $9,149 Books $1,048 $1,041 Other Expenses $2,430 $2,430 Total $21,186 $21,940 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,054 $10,412 $30,001 - $48k $10,843 $11,229 $48,001 - $75k $14,161 $14,665 $75,001 - $110k $17,228 $17,841 $110,001+ $18,895 $19,567
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University of Iowa
Iowa City Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $9,267 $9,606 Room and Board $11,172 $11,400 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $2,850 $2,850 Total $24,239 $24,806 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,975 $13,279 $30,001 - $48k $15,073 $15,426 $48,001 - $75k $18,272 $18,699 $75,001 - $110k $20,738 $21,223 $110,001+ $22,355 $22,878 -
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,938 $8,938 Room and Board $8,948 $9,160 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,148 $2,296 Total $20,934 $21,294 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,757 $10,942 $30,001 - $48k $12,495 $12,710 $48,001 - $75k $15,729 $15,999 $75,001 - $110k $17,467 $17,767 $110,001+ $17,367 $17,666
Private IA Schools Cost Breakdown
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Briar Cliff University
Sioux City Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $30,970 $32,202 Room and Board $8,896 $9,384 Books $1,323 $1,320 Other Expenses $3,297 $3,744 Total $44,486 $46,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,372 $21,363 $30,001 - $48k $20,688 $21,694 $48,001 - $75k $18,662 $19,570 $75,001 - $110k $20,337 $21,326 $110,001+ $22,742 $23,848 -
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $34,004 $35,194 Room and Board $9,538 $9,872 Books $999 $999 Other Expenses $2,267 $2,310 Total $46,808 $48,375 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,210 $14,686 $30,001 - $48k $12,773 $13,201 $48,001 - $75k $15,292 $15,804 $75,001 - $110k $18,120 $18,727 $110,001+ $24,816 $25,647 -
Central College
Pella Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $37,296 $38,600 Room and Board $10,280 $10,280 Books $1,323 $1,323 Other Expenses $3,199 $3,199 Total $52,098 $53,402 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,172 $19,652 $30,001 - $48k $19,207 $19,688 $48,001 - $75k $19,495 $19,983 $75,001 - $110k $23,810 $24,406 $110,001+ $28,720 $29,439 -
Clarke University
Dubuque Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $33,350 $34,670 Room and Board $9,600 $10,000 Books $1,330 $1,330 Other Expenses $3,120 $3,360 Total $47,400 $49,360 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $32,534 $33,879 $30,001 - $48k $31,801 $33,116 $48,001 - $75k $33,213 $34,586 $75,001 - $110k $35,138 $36,591 $110,001+ $35,984 $37,472 -
Coe College
Cedar Rapids Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $44,050 $45,580 Room and Board $9,480 $9,820 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,670 $2,670 Total $57,200 $59,070 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,590 $15,067 $30,001 - $48k $15,918 $16,438 $48,001 - $75k $18,375 $18,976 $75,001 - $110k $21,151 $21,842 $110,001+ $26,686 $27,558 -
Cornell College
Mount Vernon Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $42,299 $43,976 Room and Board $9,384 $9,760 Books $1,323 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,375 $5,401 Total $58,381 $60,337 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,458 $21,143 $30,001 - $48k $21,970 $22,706 $48,001 - $75k $23,700 $24,494 $75,001 - $110k $28,238 $29,184 $110,001+ $32,136 $33,213 -
Dordt College
Sioux Center Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $30,840 $31,770 Room and Board $9,590 $10,020 Books $1,140 $1,110 Other Expenses $3,500 $3,500 Total $45,070 $46,400 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,967 $25,704 $30,001 - $48k $22,177 $22,831 $48,001 - $75k $22,821 $23,494 $75,001 - $110k $26,237 $27,011 $110,001+ $28,980 $29,835 -
Drake University
Des Moines Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $41,396 $42,840 Room and Board $10,528 $10,848 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $3,700 $3,700 Total $56,724 $58,488 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $25,212 $25,996 $30,001 - $48k $24,060 $24,808 $48,001 - $75k $26,589 $27,416 $75,001 - $110k $30,031 $30,965 $110,001+ $32,411 $33,419 -
University of Dubuque
Dubuque Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $34,110 $35,570 Room and Board $9,930 $10,210 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $900 $900 Total $45,890 $47,630 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,369 $20,103 $30,001 - $48k $21,715 $22,538 $48,001 - $75k $28,437 $29,515 $75,001 - $110k $31,214 $32,398 $110,001+ $34,945 $36,270 -
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $29,240 $30,420 Room and Board $8,760 $9,100 Books $1,320 $1,400 Other Expenses $3,120 $2,904 Total $42,440 $43,824 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,015 $15,505 $30,001 - $48k $17,337 $17,902 $48,001 - $75k $18,800 $19,413 $75,001 - $110k $17,136 $17,695 $110,001+ $20,942 $21,625 -
Grand View University
Des Moines Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $27,608 $30,508 Room and Board $9,178 $9,704 Books $824 $836 Other Expenses $2,778 $2,898 Total $40,388 $43,946 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,481 $20,109 $30,001 - $48k $19,245 $20,940 $48,001 - $75k $18,213 $19,817 $75,001 - $110k $18,868 $20,530 $110,001+ $23,104 $25,139
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Grinnell College
Grinnell Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $52,392 $54,354 Room and Board $12,810 $13,292 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,200 Total $68,302 $70,746 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,945 $12,372 $30,001 - $48k $14,818 $15,348 $48,001 - $75k $12,486 $12,933 $75,001 - $110k $22,085 $22,875 $110,001+ $35,934 $37,220 -
Iowa Wesleyan University
Mount Pleasant Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $24,600 $25,424 Room and Board $10,960 $10,865 Books $1,316 $1,315 Other Expenses $3,297 $3,116 Total $40,173 $40,720 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,607 $24,942 $30,001 - $48k $24,755 $25,092 $48,001 - $75k $26,364 $26,723 $75,001 - $110k $31,289 $31,715 $110,001+ $32,304 $32,744 -
Loras College
Dubuque Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $34,184 $35,218 Room and Board $8,275 $8,425 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $2,011 $2,011 Total $45,570 $46,754 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,154 $16,574 $30,001 - $48k $17,094 $17,538 $48,001 - $75k $18,438 $18,917 $75,001 - $110k $20,530 $21,063 $110,001+ $24,759 $25,402 -
Luther College
Decorah Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $42,290 $44,070 Room and Board $9,460 $9,760 Books $1,040 $1,040 Other Expenses $3,015 $3,015 Total $55,805 $57,885 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,636 $17,256 $30,001 - $48k $17,630 $18,287 $48,001 - $75k $19,852 $20,592 $75,001 - $110k $24,393 $25,302 $110,001+ $27,721 $28,754 -
Morningside College
Sioux City Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $31,530 $32,720 Room and Board $9,610 $9,840 Books $1,323 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,116 $2,800 Total $45,579 $46,660 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,805 $20,275 $30,001 - $48k $19,166 $19,621 $48,001 - $75k $21,842 $22,360 $75,001 - $110k $21,927 $22,447 $110,001+ $22,194 $22,720 -
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $31,998 $33,862 Room and Board $9,534 $9,915 Books $1,320 $1,320 Other Expenses $3,680 $3,780 Total $46,532 $48,877 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,992 $14,697 $30,001 - $48k $15,098 $15,859 $48,001 - $75k $20,957 $22,013 $75,001 - $110k $24,649 $25,891 $110,001+ $26,377 $27,706 -
Northwestern College
Orange City Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $31,100 $32,300 Room and Board $9,200 $9,600 Books $1,300 $1,250 Other Expenses $3,000 $2,750 Total $44,600 $45,900 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,581 $21,181 $30,001 - $48k $20,977 $21,588 $48,001 - $75k $20,364 $20,958 $75,001 - $110k $24,115 $24,818 $110,001+ $25,776 $26,527 -
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $30,894 $31,812 Room and Board $10,470 $11,024 Books $1,320 $1,320 Other Expenses $3,282 $3,282 Total $45,966 $47,438 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,977 $24,745 $30,001 - $48k $24,516 $25,301 $48,001 - $75k $27,002 $27,867 $75,001 - $110k $25,654 $26,476 $110,001+ $27,504 $28,385 -
Simpson College
Indianola Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $39,144 $40,666 Room and Board $8,380 $8,820 Books $1,324 $1,238 Other Expenses $3,192 $3,284 Total $52,040 $54,008 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,357 $15,938 $30,001 - $48k $15,323 $15,902 $48,001 - $75k $14,790 $15,349 $75,001 - $110k $24,297 $25,216 $110,001+ $25,933 $26,914 -
Upper Iowa University
Fayette Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $30,450 $31,685 Room and Board $8,454 $8,706 Books $1,560 $1,560 Other Expenses $3,286 $3,286 Total $43,750 $45,237 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,427 $22,155 $30,001 - $48k $17,928 $18,537 $48,001 - $75k $18,943 $19,587 $75,001 - $110k $24,690 $25,529 $110,001+ $24,366 $25,194 -
Wartburg College
Waverly Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $41,280 $43,930 Room and Board $9,995 $9,280 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $1,300 $1,300 Total $53,675 $55,610 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,334 $16,923 $30,001 - $48k $19,037 $19,723 $48,001 - $75k $18,418 $19,082 $75,001 - $110k $23,445 $24,290 $110,001+ $25,590 $26,513 -
William Penn University
Oskaloosa Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $25,600 $26,100 Room and Board $6,952 $7,072 Books $1,250 $1,278 Other Expenses $4,398 $4,556 Total $38,200 $39,006 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,845 $19,243 $30,001 - $48k $19,203 $19,608 $48,001 - $75k $21,361 $21,812 $75,001 - $110k $21,561 $22,016 $110,001+ $23,759 $24,260
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