FourYearCost

Iowa State University

Ames, IAPublicRank 772 of 1,732Traditional rank 520 of 1,156

Avg freshman grant · 2022-23
$10,718
4,366 recipients
Avg grant, later years · 2022-23
$9,366
14,128 recipients
The drop
$1,352
12.6% of the freshman average

Freshman grant vs later years

Freshman year$10,718Later years$9,366

Average grant per recipient, IPEDS SFA 2022-23.

Averages across all recipients, not a prediction for one student. Continuing students include transfers and part-time students. Data is about two years old. How this is calculated.

Average net price by family income (2022-23)

Family incomeAvg net price
$0–30k$11,734
$30–48k$12,465
$48–75k$15,430
$75–110k$19,807
$110k+$21,827

First-time, full-time students receiving Title IV aid, in-state. Source: IPEDS SFA 2022-23.

Published cost (IPEDS)

Tuition and fees (in-state), 2022-23$10,133
Tuition and fees (in-state), 2023-24$10,497
Change$364 (+3.6%)
Tuition and fees (out-of-state), 2023-24$27,683
On-campus room and board, 2023-24$9,726

Source: IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Latest published cost (state report)

Resident tuition + mandatory fees 2025-26$11,091
2026-27$11,401
Change+2.8%
Nonresident 2026-27$31,449

Source: Iowa Board of Regents, April 2026, agenda item 8, www.iowaregents.edu.

Tuition and fees trend (in-state)

$8,9882018-19$9,3202019-20$9,3162020-21$9,6342021-22$10,1332022-23$10,4972023-24

Published tuition and required fees, +16.8% from first to last year shown. Source: IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2021-22 and 2023-24 files.

Average net price trend

$15,4222020-21$15,3102021-22$17,3542022-23

Average net price for first-time, full-time students receiving grant aid, in-state. Source: IPEDS SFA 2022-23.

Outcomes and aid profile

Bachelor's graduation rate within 6 years75%
Full-time freshman retention (return for year 2)88%
Freshmen receiving Pell Grants18%
Freshmen taking federal loans46%
Average federal loan (freshmen who borrow)$5,237
Aid drop one year earlier (2021-22)$1,988

Sources: IPEDS Graduation Rates 2023 (DRVGR), Fall Enrollment 2023 (retention), SFA 2022-23 and 2021-22. "Freshmen" = first-time, full-time undergraduates.

Compare with other colleges Compare with the two most similar

More: all IA colleges · how aid changes after year one · lowest net price for low-income families · 2026-27 state cost reports

Similar colleges

CollegeFreshman grantDrop
University of Iowa$9,512−$384
University of Northern Iowa$5,325−$1,355

Same state and control, closest average freshman grant. All colleges in this state.

Get a personal estimate from the college's own net price calculator.

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