28 colleges in Iowa with an average net price under $30,000 a year, ranked by what families actually pay after aid. Cheapest: Grinnell College at $15,203.
Net price is the average a family pays after grant aid — not the published sticker price. Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Schools granting only associate degrees are excluded, so a community college appears here only if it also awards bachelor's degrees.
Compare these on the map| # | College | Net price / yr | Graduates | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA |
$15,203$87,598 | 86% | 15% |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA |
$16,038$22,977 | 69% | 93% |
| 3 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA |
$16,579$29,280 | 27% | 96% |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames, IA |
$18,517$24,539 | 77% | 89% |
| 5 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA |
$18,647$70,325 | 60% | 64% |
| 6 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA |
$18,855$56,872 | 58% | 78% |
| 7 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA |
$19,899$36,250 | 44% | 81% |
| 8 | Simpson College Indianola, IA |
$20,460$63,127 | 63% | 86% |
| 9 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA |
$21,119$35,133 | 31% | 96% |
| 10 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA |
$21,705$49,220 | 49% | 99% |
| 11 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA |
$22,508$29,219 | 76% | 84% |
| 12 | Central College Pella, IA |
$22,894$37,773 | 59% | 86% |
| 13 | Loras College Dubuque, IA |
$22,910$54,674 | 64% | 100% |
| 14 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA |
$23,374$42,796 | 68% | 76% |
| 15 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA |
$23,505$54,848 | 52% | 71% |
| 16 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA |
$23,689$53,069 | 70% | 77% |
| 17 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA |
$23,749$44,104 | 38% | 52% |
| 18 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA |
$23,935$57,202 | 52% | 83% |
| 19 | Luther College Decorah, IA |
$23,945$67,611 | 65% | 72% |
| 20 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA |
$24,003$45,052 | 43% | 77% |
| 21 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA |
$24,716$51,568 | 66% | 80% |
| 22 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA |
$25,171$55,110 | 45% | 89% |
| 23 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA |
$25,297$68,934 | 60% | 80% |
| 24 | Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA |
$25,670$36,014 | 55% | 100% |
| 25 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA |
$25,944$53,336 | 72% | 68% |
| 26 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA |
$26,095$56,056 | 52% | 72% |
| 27 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA |
$27,472$58,112 | 46% | — |
| 28 | Drake University Des Moines, IA |
$29,415$65,475 | 71% | 64% |