26 colleges in Iowa with an average net price under $30,000 a year, ranked by what families actually pay after aid. Cheapest: Maharishi International University at $14,956.
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 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA |
$14,956$27,892 | 50% | 96% |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA |
$15,901$22,278 | 68% | 93% |
| 3 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA |
$17,648$83,440 | 88% | 15% |
| 4 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA |
$18,504$48,294 | 42% | 81% |
| 5 | Iowa State University Ames, IA |
$18,589$24,018 | 75% | 89% |
| 6 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA |
$18,745$67,372 | 66% | 64% |
| 7 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA |
$18,846$54,222 | 62% | 78% |
| 8 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA |
$19,693$39,675 | 21% | 77% |
| 9 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA |
$20,168$55,054 | 58% | 83% |
| 10 | Loras College Dubuque, IA |
$20,716$50,537 | 68% | 100% |
| 11 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA |
$20,942$34,022 | 34% | 96% |
| 12 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA |
$21,774$48,522 | 54% | 99% |
| 13 | Simpson College Indianola, IA |
$21,936$61,227 | 63% | 86% |
| 14 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA |
$22,531$28,596 | 75% | 84% |
| 15 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA |
$22,601$42,874 | 33% | 52% |
| 16 | Luther College Decorah, IA |
$23,097$65,461 | 71% | 72% |
| 17 | Central College Pella, IA |
$23,377$37,773 | 66% | 86% |
| 18 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA |
$23,386$53,806 | 40% | 89% |
| 19 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA |
$23,634$66,249 | 62% | 80% |
| 20 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA |
$23,907$51,493 | 48% | — |
| 21 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA |
$24,479$55,782 | 56% | 72% |
| 22 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA |
$24,691$51,141 | 61% | 77% |
| 23 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA |
$25,807$51,733 | 70% | 68% |
| 24 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA |
$25,907$49,783 | 66% | 80% |
| 25 | Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA |
$26,924$34,398 | 66% | 100% |
| 26 | Drake University Des Moines, IA |
$29,127$64,835 | 74% | 64% |