Affordable Colleges in Iowa

Questions families ask

What is the most affordable college in Iowa?

By average net price — what students actually pay per year after grants and scholarships — it is Marshalltown Community College at about $8,059 a year. That is an average across all students there; your own cost depends on your family's income, so check the school's net price calculator.

What is the difference between sticker price and net price?

Sticker price is the published tuition before any aid. Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted — not loans, which you pay back. Net price is usually far lower, and at expensive private colleges the gap can be tens of thousands a year, which is why every figure on this page is net price rather than tuition.

How much does college in Iowa cost on average?

Across the 46 colleges in Iowa that report a figure, the middle of the range is about $18,745 a year after aid, running from $8,059 to $32,908.

Are community colleges cheaper in Iowa?

On this data, yes. The typical two-year college in Iowa has a net price around $11,171 a year, against about $22,531 at the typical four-year school — a difference of roughly $11,360 a year. Credits often transfer, so two years at a community college can cut the cost of a four-year degree substantially.

What does the Pell grant percentage mean?

It is the share of undergraduates at that school receiving a federal Pell grant — need-based aid that does not have to be repaid. A higher share usually means the school enrols more students from lower-income families. Across the colleges listed here it runs from 16% to 57%, with a middle of about 27%. It is the only aid figure the Department of Education publishes per school, so it is the only one shown.