Colleges in Iowa: ACT scores and what they really cost.
29 four-year colleges in Iowa, 20 of which publish an admitted ACT range. The lowest average net price among IA schools is $14,956 a year at Maharishi International University, after grant and scholarship aid. Sorted cheapest first. All figures from the U.S. Department of Education.
Maharishi International University
University of Northern Iowa
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Grinnell College
Graceland University-Lamoni
Iowa State University
Coe College
Buena Vista University
Waldorf University
Mount Mercy University
Loras College
Upper Iowa University
Grand View University
Simpson College
University of Iowa
William Penn University
Luther College
Central College
University of Dubuque
Cornell College
Briar Cliff University
Clarke University
Saint Ambrose University
Dordt University
Northwestern College
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Drake University
Morningside University
Wartburg College
Net price is total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, books) minus grant and scholarship aid, for students receiving federal aid. Admitted ACT range is the 25th to 75th percentile of admitted students; schools that do not publish a range may still accept ACT scores. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Common questions
How many four-year colleges are in Iowa?
Iowa (IA) has 29 four-year colleges reporting an average net price to the U.S. Department of Education. 20 of them publish an admitted ACT score range; the rest are test-optional or do not report one, though they may still accept ACT scores.
What is the cheapest college in Iowa?
By average net price after grant and scholarship aid, Maharishi International University in Fairfield is the least expensive four-year college in Iowa at $14,956 a year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus aid that does not need to be repaid, for students receiving federal aid. What a specific family pays varies by household income.
Are public colleges cheaper than private colleges in Iowa?
Usually, but not always. Among Iowa's 3 public colleges the median net price is $18,589 a year, against $23,097 across 26 private colleges. Private schools often discount heavily through grant aid, so a private college can cost a specific family less than a public one despite a far higher sticker price.
Does household income change what college costs in Iowa?
Substantially. Across Iowa colleges the median net price is $17,715 a year for a family earning under $30,000 and $26,586 for one earning over $110,000, at the same schools. The average price a college publishes blends every income level together, so it may be far from what any particular family pays.