CostByCollegePublic, 4-year institution
How much does Iowa State cost
Iowa State University is in Ames, IA. Total enrollment is 30,177 students, with 25,332 undergraduates.
The total cost for one year at Iowa State University is $24,204 for in state students, living on campus. For out of state students the total is $41,390. Tuition and fees alone come to $10,497 of that total.
The cost breakdown
The total below uses the on campus figures for room, board, and other expenses. Each total is the sum of the rows above it, with nothing added and nothing left out.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, in state | $8,982 |
| Required fees, in state | $1,515 |
| Books and supplies | $1,091 |
| Room and board, on campus | $9,726 |
| Other expenses, on campus | $2,890 |
| Total cost for one year, in state | $24,204 |
Total cost for out of state students
Students from outside Iowa pay a higher tuition rate at Iowa State University. Every other part of the cost is the same.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, out of state | $26,168 |
| Required fees, out of state | $1,515 |
| Books and supplies | $1,091 |
| Room and board, on campus | $9,726 |
| Other expenses, on campus | $2,890 |
| Total cost for one year, out of state | $41,390 |
Average net price
The average net price at Iowa State University is $17,354 for one year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across full time, first time students who received federal student aid and paid the in state or in district rate, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. It is an average, not a quote. A particular student can pay far less or close to the full published total, depending on family income and the aid the school offers.
That average net price is $650 below the average of $18,004 across the pilot schools on this site that publish a net price.
Cost weighed against outcomes
Median earnings ten years after entry are $63,386 a year. That figure covers students who received federal aid, who were working and not enrolled in further study at the ten year mark.
Median debt at graduation is $22,869. That is the median federal loan debt of students who completed a program at this school.
Put together, one year of median earnings at the ten year mark is about 2.8 times the median debt at graduation. That framing is rough. Earnings grow over a career, debt is usually repaid over many years, and both figures are medians across large groups, not a result any one student is promised.
The graduation rate is 75%. It measures the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
How this school compares
Against its state: That is $14,096 below the Iowa pilot school average of $38,300.
Against the country: That is $18,459 below the national pilot school average of $42,663.
State and national averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a total cost, 4 schools in Iowa and 293 schools nationwide on this site. They describe the schools listed on this site, not every college in the state or the country.
Admissions at a glance
The acceptance rate at Iowa State University is 89.1% for fall 2023, from 22,995 applicants and 20,496 admitted students. Read the acceptance rate page for Iowa State for the full picture, including how the rate compares.
Similar schools to compare
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Total cost $28,596 for one year.
- Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa. Total cost $16,908 for one year.
- Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. Total cost $83,490 for one year.
- Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. Total cost $34,309 for one year.
- George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Total cost $33,748 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Iowa State cost per year?
The total cost for one year at Iowa State University is $24,204 for in state students, living on campus. It counts tuition, required fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses. For out of state students the total is $41,390.
What is the average net price at Iowa State?
The average net price at Iowa State University is $17,354 for one year, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across the students described on this page.
What do graduates of Iowa State earn and owe?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $63,386 a year, and median debt at graduation is $22,869, in the College Scorecard data used here. Both are medians across large groups, not a promise for any one student.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa State?
The graduation rate at Iowa State University is 75%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa State?
The acceptance rate at Iowa State University is 89.1% for fall 2023, from 22,995 applicants and 20,496 admitted students. The acceptance rate page on this site explains what that figure does and does not mean.
Is Iowa State public or private?
Iowa State University is a public, 4-year institution in Ames, Iowa. Total enrollment is 30,177 students.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard, United States Department of Education. Tuition and cost figures are for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. Average net price figures are for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Earnings and debt figures come from the College Scorecard file dated June 10, 2026. See the methodology page for full detail.