Zoom
In
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
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 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
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.
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 $17,878 and the average private school would be $25,175. You can also get information on specific Iowa schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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.
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.
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.
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 (2020-21) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $9,606 |
| Room and Board | $11,590 |
| Books | $950 |
| Other Expenses | $3,230 |
| Total | $25,376 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. 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 $22,870 | IA Private $51,967 |
| $0 - $30k | $10,880 | $19,295 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $11,879 | $20,250 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $15,090 | $21,851 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $17,878 | $25,175 |
| $110,001+ | $19,141 | $28,283 |
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 $7,000-$10,000 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
-
Iowa State University
Ames Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,316 $9,634 Room and Board $9,193 $9,088 Books $1,001 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,430 $2,430 Total $21,940 $22,152 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,148 $8,227 $30,001 - $48k $9,986 $10,082 $48,001 - $75k $12,717 $12,840 $75,001 - $110k $16,964 $17,128 $110,001+ $19,610 $19,799
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,606 $9,942 Room and Board $11,590 $11,780 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $3,230 $3,686 Total $25,376 $26,358 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,772 $14,305 $30,001 - $48k $14,089 $14,634 $48,001 - $75k $18,317 $19,026 $75,001 - $110k $20,690 $21,491 $110,001+ $22,754 $23,635 -
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,938 $9,053 Room and Board $9,160 $9,160 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,396 $2,396 Total $21,294 $21,409 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,720 $10,778 $30,001 - $48k $11,562 $11,624 $48,001 - $75k $14,236 $14,313 $75,001 - $110k $15,979 $16,065 $110,001+ $15,060 $15,141
Private IA Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $33,308 $33,998 Room and Board $9,522 $9,582 Books $1,320 $1,340 Other Expenses $3,740 $3,944 Total $47,890 $48,864 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,969 $20,375 $30,001 - $48k $18,434 $18,809 $48,001 - $75k $22,568 $23,027 $75,001 - $110k $21,961 $22,408 $110,001+ $24,154 $24,645 -
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $36,426 $37,518 Room and Board $9,537 $10,370 Books $1,190 $1,146 Other Expenses $2,420 $2,762 Total $49,573 $51,796 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,607 $15,262 $30,001 - $48k $15,178 $15,859 $48,001 - $75k $15,732 $16,437 $75,001 - $110k $18,423 $19,249 $110,001+ $23,968 $25,043 -
Central College
Pella Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $18,600 $19,250 Room and Board $10,280 $10,552 Books $1,323 $1,341 Other Expenses $3,116 $3,159 Total $33,319 $34,302 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,806 $16,272 $30,001 - $48k $16,247 $16,726 $48,001 - $75k $19,305 $19,875 $75,001 - $110k $22,886 $23,561 $110,001+ $25,457 $26,208 -
Clarke University
Dubuque Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $35,750 $36,870 Room and Board $10,200 $10,400 Books $1,330 $1,514 Other Expenses $3,360 $3,457 Total $50,640 $52,241 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,597 $22,280 $30,001 - $48k $22,574 $23,288 $48,001 - $75k $27,224 $28,085 $75,001 - $110k $29,563 $30,498 $110,001+ $29,994 $30,942 -
Coe College
Cedar Rapids Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $47,220 $48,822 Room and Board $10,174 $10,520 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,670 $2,670 Total $61,064 $63,012 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,451 $12,848 $30,001 - $48k $14,379 $14,838 $48,001 - $75k $16,554 $17,082 $75,001 - $110k $19,558 $20,182 $110,001+ $26,398 $27,240 -
Cornell College
Mount Vernon Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $45,914 $47,726 Room and Board $10,150 $10,556 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,253 $3,253 Total $60,517 $62,735 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,340 $17,976 $30,001 - $48k $16,660 $17,271 $48,001 - $75k $17,834 $18,488 $75,001 - $110k $23,497 $24,358 $110,001+ $26,392 $27,359 -
Dordt College
Sioux Center Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,820 $34,170 Room and Board $10,470 $10,780 Books $1,130 $1,030 Other Expenses $3,500 $3,500 Total $47,920 $49,480 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,354 $19,984 $30,001 - $48k $22,382 $23,111 $48,001 - $75k $25,340 $26,165 $75,001 - $110k $26,520 $27,383 $110,001+ $29,898 $30,871 -
Drake University
Des Moines Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $44,376 $45,912 Room and Board $11,152 $11,288 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $3,700 $3,825 Total $60,328 $62,125 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,262 $23,955 $30,001 - $48k $24,012 $24,727 $48,001 - $75k $24,833 $25,573 $75,001 - $110k $29,659 $30,542 $110,001+ $32,403 $33,368 -
University of Dubuque
Dubuque Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $36,610 $36,010 Room and Board $10,500 $10,300 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $900 $900 Total $48,960 $48,160 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,546 $18,243 $30,001 - $48k $23,996 $23,604 $48,001 - $75k $29,392 $28,912 $75,001 - $110k $31,102 $30,594 $110,001+ $32,072 $31,548 -
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $31,320 $31,920 Room and Board $9,400 $9,810 Books $1,320 $1,440 Other Expenses $3,120 $3,210 Total $45,160 $46,380 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,809 $17,263 $30,001 - $48k $15,663 $16,086 $48,001 - $75k $18,021 $18,508 $75,001 - $110k $20,999 $21,566 $110,001+ $24,126 $24,778 -
Grand View University
Des Moines Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,792 $30,864 Room and Board $9,920 $10,520 Books $836 $848 Other Expenses $2,900 $2,940 Total $43,448 $45,172 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $35,224 $36,622 $30,001 - $48k $35,184 $36,580 $48,001 - $75k $39,428 $40,992 $75,001 - $110k $40,304 $41,903 $110,001+ $37,094 $38,566
-
Grinnell College
Grinnell Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $56,680 $58,648 Room and Board $13,864 $14,350 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,200 Total $73,644 $76,098 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,470 $13,919 $30,001 - $48k $18,452 $19,067 $48,001 - $75k $20,113 $20,783 $75,001 - $110k $28,092 $29,028 $110,001+ $43,522 $44,972 -
Iowa Wesleyan University
Mount Pleasant Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $25,280 $33,650 Room and Board $11,010 $11,340 Books $1,000 $0 Other Expenses $3,500 $2,300 Total $40,790 $47,290 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $32,877 $38,116 $30,001 - $48k $32,538 $37,723 $48,001 - $75k $33,903 $39,306 $75,001 - $110k $34,059 $39,486 $110,001+ $36,507 $42,324 -
Loras College
Dubuque Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $35,218 $35,268 Room and Board $8,600 $8,760 Books $1,100 $800 Other Expenses $2,011 $2,059 Total $46,929 $46,887 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,470 $15,456 $30,001 - $48k $16,513 $16,498 $48,001 - $75k $15,930 $15,916 $75,001 - $110k $18,501 $18,484 $110,001+ $23,200 $23,179 -
Luther College
Decorah Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $45,610 $46,760 Room and Board $10,110 $10,360 Books $1,040 $1,040 Other Expenses $3,015 $3,015 Total $59,775 $61,175 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,770 $19,210 $30,001 - $48k $18,668 $19,105 $48,001 - $75k $21,741 $22,250 $75,001 - $110k $23,935 $24,496 $110,001+ $30,286 $30,995 -
Morningside College
Sioux City Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $33,970 $35,270 Room and Board $10,110 $10,410 Books $1,300 $1,250 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,900 Total $48,180 $49,830 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,765 $23,545 $30,001 - $48k $20,905 $21,621 $48,001 - $75k $23,522 $24,328 $75,001 - $110k $24,645 $25,489 $110,001+ $25,097 $25,956 -
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $35,506 $36,540 Room and Board $10,112 $10,428 Books $1,320 $1,320 Other Expenses $3,980 $4,104 Total $50,918 $52,392 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,111 $19,664 $30,001 - $48k $19,601 $20,168 $48,001 - $75k $16,368 $16,842 $75,001 - $110k $24,825 $25,544 $110,001+ $26,857 $27,634 -
Northwestern College
Orange City Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,920 $33,590 Room and Board $9,800 $10,000 Books $1,200 $1,160 Other Expenses $2,980 $2,900 Total $46,900 $47,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,256 $20,580 $30,001 - $48k $18,488 $18,784 $48,001 - $75k $22,570 $22,931 $75,001 - $110k $23,117 $23,487 $110,001+ $25,438 $25,845 -
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,758 $33,570 Room and Board $11,354 $11,638 Books $1,320 $1,320 Other Expenses $3,282 $3,308 Total $48,714 $49,836 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,762 $22,263 $30,001 - $48k $22,279 $22,792 $48,001 - $75k $20,766 $21,244 $75,001 - $110k $25,894 $26,490 $110,001+ $27,097 $27,721 -
Simpson College
Indianola Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $42,246 $44,030 Room and Board $9,282 $9,654 Books $1,170 $1,146 Other Expenses $3,264 $3,334 Total $55,962 $58,164 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,374 $17,018 $30,001 - $48k $18,412 $19,136 $48,001 - $75k $17,607 $18,300 $75,001 - $110k $22,969 $23,873 $110,001+ $25,307 $26,303 -
Upper Iowa University
Fayette Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,945 $33,609 Room and Board $9,105 $9,410 Books $1,590 $1,620 Other Expenses $3,352 $3,419 Total $46,992 $48,058 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,301 $24,852 $30,001 - $48k $25,119 $25,689 $48,001 - $75k $19,990 $20,443 $75,001 - $110k $24,253 $24,803 $110,001+ $25,068 $25,637 -
Wartburg College
Waverly Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $45,680 $47,500 Room and Board $9,592 $9,990 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $1,300 $1,300 Total $57,672 $59,890 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,460 $16,055 $30,001 - $48k $17,521 $18,195 $48,001 - $75k $20,206 $20,983 $75,001 - $110k $23,790 $24,705 $110,001+ $25,952 $26,950 -
William Penn University
Oskaloosa Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $26,600 $27,200 Room and Board $7,176 $7,256 Books $1,300 $1,318 Other Expenses $4,624 $4,826 Total $39,700 $40,600 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,057 $20,512 $30,001 - $48k $19,207 $19,642 $48,001 - $75k $20,502 $20,967 $75,001 - $110k $22,601 $23,113 $110,001+ $22,556 $23,067
View Other States
Select a state from the map below to view colleges in nearby states.
If you found the information of this page useful, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Get great information on all aspects of planning for college. We have interviews with experts, students and their stories, and the latest news in college admissions. Listen to each half-hour episode while you’re driving or working out. Use your favorite podcast app, iTunes, or listen directly at the website.
