Paying for college · Iowa
What college really costs in Iowa
Average yearly net price after grants at 68 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Iowa state grants
- Iowa Tuition Grant: Up to $7,500 a year in 2026–27, and no more than your calculated need. The 2027–28 amount is not yet set.
- Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship: Pays the tuition and qualified fees left after federal and state grants, up to Iowa community college tuition.
- Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant): Up to $3,100 in 2026–27.
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$7.25/hour minimum wage
Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25, the same as the federal rate.
All four-year colleges in Iowa
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny · public | $7,005 | $5,136 | — | $11,000 |
| Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown · public | $7,234 | $5,443 | — | $7,875 |
| North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City · public | $8,510 | $7,214 | — | $10,500 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City · public | $9,042 | $7,446 | — | $10,500 |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit LakeSpirit Lake · private | $9,466 | — | — | — |
| Emmaus Bible CollegeDubuque · private | $9,580 | $7,266 | 67% | $12,000 |
| Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville · public | $10,553 | $7,277 | — | $10,500 |
| La James College of Hairstyling and CosmetologyMason City · private | $11,025 | $8,118 | — | $6,332 |
| American Hair AcademyMt. Pleasant · private | $11,157 | — | — | — |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa · public | $11,505 | $10,593 | — | $9,500 |
| Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar · public | $11,757 | $10,255 | — | $10,500 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids · public | $12,073 | $9,673 | — | $12,000 |
| Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa Falls · public | $12,300 | $9,553 | — | $8,844 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington · public | $12,346 | $11,776 | — | $12,000 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des MoinesDes Moines · private | $12,542 | $9,471 | — | $6,333 |
| College of Hair DesignCedar Falls · private | $12,660 | — | — | $17,083 |
| Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldon · public | $12,665 | $9,584 | — | $7,313 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge · public | $12,725 | $11,443 | — | $12,000 |
| Southwestern Community CollegeCreston · public | $12,751 | $10,194 | — | $9,982 |
| Capri College-DavenportDavenport · private | $12,903 | $11,810 | — | $9,521 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport · public | $12,958 | $11,104 | — | $13,219 |
| Carlson College of Massage TherapyAnamosa · private | $13,125 | — | — | — |
| SOHO Hair AcademyCouncil Bluffs · private | $14,400 | $12,934 | — | $10,900 |
| Capri College-Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids · private | $14,882 | $14,635 | — | $9,707 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux CitySioux City · private | $15,073 | — | — | $10,194 |
| Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo · public | $15,128 | $13,408 | — | $12,000 |
| Grinnell CollegeGrinnell · private | $15,203 | $8,161 | 86% | $8,750 |
| Capri College-DubuqueDubuque · private | $15,567 | $12,519 | — | $7,600 |
| University of Northern IowaCedar Falls · public | $16,038 | $11,415 | 69% | $18,039 |
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs · public | $16,324 | $14,791 | — | $11,000 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny · private | $16,517 | $16,428 | 56% | $10,900 |
| Maharishi International UniversityFairfield · private | $16,579 | — | 27% | $25,000 |
| La James International College-Ft DodgeFort Dodge · private | $17,652 | — | — | — |
| Iowa State UniversityAmes · public | $18,517 | $11,957 | 77% | $21,250 |
| Coe CollegeCedar Rapids · private | $18,647 | $12,807 | 60% | $27,000 |
| La James International College-JohnstonJohnston · private | $18,719 | — | — | $7,917 |
| Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake · private | $18,855 | $15,520 | 58% | $23,250 |
| La James International College-DavenportDavenport · private | $19,663 | — | — | $7,917 |
| Graceland University-LamoniLamoni · private | $19,899 | $19,745 | 44% | $21,628 |
| Simpson CollegeIndianola · private | $20,460 | $16,952 | 63% | $26,000 |
| Aveda Institute-Des MoinesWest Des Moines · private | $20,991 | — | — | $8,205 |
| Upper Iowa UniversityFayette · private | $21,119 | $19,891 | 31% | $23,105 |
| Grand View UniversityDes Moines · private | $21,705 | $17,979 | 49% | $22,500 |
| PCI Academy-Iowa CityIowa City · private | $22,340 | — | — | $6,333 |
| University of IowaIowa City · public | $22,508 | $15,353 | 76% | $21,262 |
| PCI Academy-AmesAmes · private | $22,697 | — | — | $6,333 |
| Central CollegePella · private | $22,894 | $16,038 | 59% | $25,125 |
| Loras CollegeDubuque · private | $22,910 | $19,837 | 64% | $27,000 |
| Wartburg CollegeWaverly · private | $23,374 | $17,579 | 68% | $27,000 |
| Ross College-DavenportDavenport · private | $23,429 | — | — | $8,996 |
| Morningside UniversitySioux City · private | $23,505 | $21,940 | 52% | $25,000 |
| Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport · private | $23,689 | $21,351 | 70% | $23,308 |
| William Penn UniversityOskaloosa · private | $23,749 | $22,112 | 38% | $25,000 |
| La James International College-Cedar FallsCedar Falls · private | $23,813 | — | — | $7,917 |
| Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids · private | $23,935 | $21,205 | 52% | $22,708 |
| Luther CollegeDecorah · private | $23,945 | $15,244 | 65% | $27,000 |
| Waldorf UniversityForest City · private | $24,003 | $22,337 | 43% | $22,500 |
| Orion Technical CollegeDavenport · private | $24,072 | — | 67% | $9,500 |
| Northwestern CollegeOrange City · private | $24,716 | $24,506 | 66% | $23,249 |
| University of DubuqueDubuque · private | $25,171 | $22,076 | 45% | $24,513 |
| Cornell CollegeMount Vernon · private | $25,297 | $18,469 | 60% | $27,000 |
| Mercy College of Health SciencesDes Moines · private | $25,670 | $21,914 | 55% | $12,500 |
| Dordt UniversitySioux Center · private | $25,944 | $27,498 | 72% | $19,500 |
| Clarke UniversityDubuque · private | $26,095 | $22,155 | 52% | $25,000 |
| Briar Cliff UniversitySioux City · private | $27,472 | $21,729 | 46% | $20,792 |
| Drake UniversityDes Moines · private | $29,415 | $28,458 | 71% | $21,500 |
| St Luke's CollegeSioux City · private | $31,618 | — | 25% | $14,480 |
| Body Wisdom Massage Therapy SchoolUrbandale · private | $40,463 | — | — | — |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Iowa use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.