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© 2025 Tuition Covered. All Rights Reserved.
OverviewTuition & CostsReturn on EducationAdmissionsMajors & DegreesStudentsReviews
  1. Colleges
  2. Catalog
  3. Iowa State University

Estimated Net Cost
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$18k

Estimated Post Grad Salary
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$58k

Return on Education

(post 4-year graduation)
Excellent
Iowa State University is a public university located in Ames, Iowa, founded in 1858. Known for its strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine, it is perceived as a prestigious research institution with a focus on innovation and sustainability. One unique aspect is its beautiful campus featuring a landmark campanile tower that chimes throughout the day.

Pros

  • Strong focus on research

  • Diverse range of academic programs

  • Vibrant campus life

  • Supportive community and resources for students

Cons

  • Weather can be harsh in winter

  • Potentially high cost of living

  • Limited nightlife options

  • Some programs may have large class sizes

Tuition and Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at Iowa State University: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at Iowa State University. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Most Recent Tuition Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at Iowa State University: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at Iowa State University. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Yearly4 years
Tuition and Fees
Average Tuition, including fees before grants and scholarships.
 
$10,497$41,988
Room and Board
This is the average, based on staying on-campus
 
$9,726$38,904
Books and Supplies
The expenditure on books and supplies for an average student at Iowa State University
 
$1,091$4,364
Other expenses
The amount of money (estimated by the financial aid office at Iowa State University) needed by a student to cover expenses such as laundry, transportation, entertainment, and furnishings.
 
$2,890$11,560
Sticker Price$24,204$96,816

Historical Tuition Costs

Based on historical data, in-state tuition is expected to rise by approximately $292 per year over the next three years, reaching $10,707 in 2024, and $10,999 in 2025, and $11,290 in 2026.

Return On Education

Admissions

Iowa State University admissions is not very selective with an acceptance rate of 90%. The application deadline can be found on the institution's website.
90%Admission Rate
75%Graduation Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT Range
1090 - 1350
ACT Range21 - 28
High School GPA

N/A

Key dates

Application DeadlineSee college website
Early Decision DateSee college website
Early Action DateSee college website

Majors & Degrees

Explore the range of academic programs offered at this institution.
VeterinaryMaster's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Professional, Doctoral Degree – Other
TechnicianUndergraduate Certificate, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
EngineeringBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Aerospace•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Chemical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Civil Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Computer Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Electrical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Mechanical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Material Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Systems Engineering•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
Construction Engineering•Bachelor's Degree
Industrial Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Energy Systems•Master's Degree
Biotechnology•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
HistoryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Historic Preservation & Conservation•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
Political Science•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
Cartography•Doctoral Degree – Other
LinguisticsBachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Bilingual/Multilingual •Bachelor's Degree
German•Bachelor's Degree
Romance Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree
HospitalityBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
EducationMaster's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Curriculum & Instruction•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Education Administration•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Educational Design•Doctoral Degree – Research
Education Assessment•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
Special Education•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
Teaching•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Physical Education•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Apparel & TextilesBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Liberal ArtsUndergraduate Certificate, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
BiologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
Biomathematics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Ecology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Chiropractic•Bachelor's Degree
GeneticsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
MathematicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Applied Mathematics•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Statistics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Security•Doctoral Degree – Other
AccountingBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
ChemistryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
PhysicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
SociologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
MedicalBachelor's Degree
⌄
Registered Nursing (RN)•Bachelor's Degree
BusinessUndergraduate Certificate, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Business Managerial Economics•Bachelor's Degree
Finance•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
International Business•Bachelor's Degree
Marketing•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
EntrepreneurshipBachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
ManagementBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Management Information Systems (MIS)•Bachelor's Degree

Student Life

Learn about the community, campus culture, and experiences that shape student life at this college.

Student Breakdown

Total Enrollment5,859
Full-time Students5,794
Part-time Students65

Faculty

Faculty-Student Ratio:18:1
Full-Time FacultyN/A
Part-Time FacultyN/A

Reviews and Ratings

For complete transparency we combine scores from across the web to give you a true picture of what students think about Iowa State University. Additionally, we have our own score which can be used alongside these external sources.

Tuition Covered Rating
(4.6)
Niche
(3.9)
US News
(5.0)

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Investing in higher education is a pivotal step towards future prosperity. It's essential to weigh the upfront costs against the potential for increased lifetime earnings and career opportunities. Our ROEdu score aims to help you understand tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, alongside the long-term benefits of earning a degree. By making informed decisions about where and what you study, you can maximize the return on your educational investment, turning the cost of your degree into a foundation for future success and financial security.

RoEDU
957
Iowa State University stands in the premier league, positioned within the top institutions for return on education, delivering unparalleled value and setting its graduates on a path to remarkable success.

Iowa State University

Public
Ames, IA
City