2025 Average Tuition, Fees, and Living cost in Iowa Colleges

The average tuition & fees of Iowa colleges is $6,929 for Iowa residents and $10,474 for students from other States.

Grinnell College has the highest (most expensive) tuition & fees of $68,196 and Palmer College of Chiropractic has the lowest tuition & fees (cheapest) of $11,760.

For graduate programs, University of Iowa has the highest (most expensive) graduate tuition & fees of $33,371 and Cornell College has the lowest graduate tuition & fees (cheapest) of $52,660 in Iowa.

2025 cost of Attendance (COA)

The average COA of Iowa 4-year colleges in 2025 is $26,660 for Iowa residents and $43,980 for students from other states. The COA includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other living expenses, but it excludes health insurance fee and uncommon expenses.

Table. 2025 Average cost of Attendance for Iowa Colleges (4-Years)
UndergraduateGraduate
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees $10,669$27,988 $12,665$28,751
Books & Supplies$1,154$1,154
Room & Board$14,838$14,838
COA$26,660$43,980$28,656$44,743

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In Iowa, 73 schools offer undergraduate programs. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of Iowa colleges is $6,929 for Iowa residents and $10,474 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2024-2025.

The Iowa tuition & fees have risen 2.54% from last year (4 years colleges).

The following table and chart describe the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees trends over last 5 years in 4-years and 2-4 years (community colleges) colleges.

You may want to compare Iowa schools with tuition changes from last year at Iowa colleges tuition change page.

2025 Average Undergraduate Tuition & Fees for Iowa Colleges
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
4 Years or High2-4 Years4 Years or High2-4 Years
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
2021 $9,287$25,765 $5,566$6,764 $30,787$3,940
2022 $9,543$25,701 $5,644$6,833 $31,634$4,128
2023 $9,966$26,499 $5,763$6,962 $32,542$4,128
2024 $10,396$27,294 $5,969$7,182 $33,422$4,128
2025 $10,669$27,988 $6,228$7,190 $33,179$4,128

Expensive Iowa Colleges (Highest Undergraduate Tuition)

Grinnell College$68,196
Coe College$54,666
Cornell College$52,660
Luther College$52,120
Drake University$51,960

Inexpensive Iowa Colleges (Lowest Undergraduate Tuition)

Palmer College of Chiropractic$11,760
Divine Word College$15,600
Orion Technical College$15,600
Maharishi International University$16,530
Mercy College of Health Sciences$17,664
*Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4-year colleges

Graduate Program Tuition & Fees

30 Iowa colleges offer graduate programs. The average graduate program tuition fees of Iowa colleges is $12,665 for Iowa residents and $28,751 for students from other States. The graduate tuition & fees rose 99.12% from last year.

The following table and chart describe the 2025 graduate tuition & fees and show last 5 years' tuition change.

2025 Average Graduate Tuition & Fees for Iowa Universities and Colleges
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
In-StateOut-of-State
2021 $11,028$25,403$13,407
2022 $11,346$26,387$13,274
2023 $11,845$27,257$13,014
2024 $12,341$29,006$12,502
2025 $12,665$28,751$13,102

Expensive Graduate Schools in Iowa

University of Iowa$32,372
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center$32,060
Iowa State University$30,577
University of Northern Iowa$23,304
Wartburg Theological Seminary$21,658

Inexpensive Graduate Schools in Iowa

Cornell College$2,800
Waldorf University$5,340
Northwestern College$6,790
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary$7,940
Buena Vista University$9,061
*Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4-year colleges

Books & Supplies cost

The average books & supplies cost of Iowa colleges in 2025 is $1,154. The books & supplies cost rose 102.46% from last year. The following table and chart describes the 2025 books & supplies cost and cost changes over last 5 years.

2025 Average Books & Supplies cost for Iowa Universities and Colleges
Books & Supplies
2021$1,135
2022$1,132
2023$1,150
2024$1,127
2025$1,154

Average Living cost

The average living cost of Iowa colleges in 2025 is $14,838 when a student lives on campus such as dormitory and college apartment and $15,069 living off campus. 46 schools have on-campus living facilities in Iowa State. The on-campus living cost rose 106.87% and off-campus cost rose 106.65% from last year.

The following table and chart describes the 2025 living cost and compares to last 5 years.

2025 Average Living cost for Iowa Universities and Colleges
On-CampusOff-Campus
2021$12,460$12,347
2022$12,768$12,640
2023$13,135$13,170
2024$13,884$14,129
2025$14,838$15,069
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