State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Iowa
According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 68 Iowa colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.
- $4,522
- Cheapest net price
- $17,813
- Iowa median
- 68
- Schools ranked
Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology has the lowest average net price in Iowa at $4,522/year, and the state's median net price is 4% above the $17,083 national median across 4,942 schools.
- $4,522
- cheapest ranked net price
- $17,813
- Iowa median net price
- 19 public / 49 private
- schools in this ranking
- $15,420
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Grinnell College, where in-state published tuition of $68,106 falls to an average net price of $17,648 after aid, a $50,458 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Iowa schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.
Across all 68 ranked Iowa schools, 19 are public institutions and 49 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.
Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.
Iowa's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology Mason City, IA · Private for-profit | $4,522 90% of the leader · rank #1 | $3,738 | $6,930 | $20,024 | 56 |
| 2 | Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake Spirit Lake, IA · Private for-profit | $5,508 88% of the leader · rank #2 | - | - | $20,200 | 16 |
| 3 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA · Public | $8,059 82% of the leader · rank #3 | $6,393 | $9,500 | $36,574 | 1,870 |
| 4 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA · Public | $8,770 81% of the leader · rank #4 | $7,662 | $11,000 | $35,639 | 5,071 |
| 5 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA · Public | $9,328 79% of the leader · rank #5 | $7,837 | $11,000 | $35,830 | 4,909 |
| 6 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA · Public | $9,649 79% of the leader · rank #6 | $7,443 | $12,000 | $39,099 | 4,796 |
| 7 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA · Public | $9,705 78% of the leader · rank #7 | $6,967 | $12,000 | $37,525 | 12,660 |
| 8 | Southwestern Community College Creston, IA · Public | $9,871 78% of the leader · rank #8 | $7,137 | $10,975 | $36,878 | 1,633 |
| 9 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA · Public | $10,010 78% of the leader · rank #9 | $8,471 | $9,500 | $39,491 | 2,471 |
| 10 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA · Public | $10,693 76% of the leader · rank #10 | $9,561 | $10,500 | $38,540 | 3,236 |
| 11 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA · Public | $11,171 75% of the leader · rank #11 | $9,132 | $11,000 | $39,349 | 24,418 |
| 12 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA · Public | $11,272 75% of the leader · rank #12 | $9,137 | $12,000 | $38,805 | 4,378 |
| 13 | Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IA · Public | $11,451 75% of the leader · rank #13 | $9,121 | $10,000 | $31,739 | 685 |
| 14 | American Hair Academy Mount Pleasant, IA · Private for-profit | $11,556 74% of the leader · rank #14 | $11,556 | - | $17,836 | 27 |
| 15 | The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA · Private for-profit | $11,742 74% of the leader · rank #15 | $11,221 | $12,500 | $10,696 | 101 |
| 16 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA · Public | $12,347 73% of the leader · rank #16 | $11,012 | $12,000 | $34,355 | 2,562 |
| 17 | Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines Des Moines, IA · Private for-profit | $12,673 72% of the leader · rank #17 | $11,214 | $6,333 | $25,884 | 74 |
| 18 | Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $13,186 71% of the leader · rank #18 | $11,199 | $15,750 | $34,653 | 197 |
| 19 | SOHO Hair Academy Council Bluffs, IA · Private for-profit | $13,198 71% of the leader · rank #19 | $10,949 | $9,425 | $26,909 | 50 |
| 20 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA · Public | $13,933 69% of the leader · rank #20 | $11,420 | $12,000 | $37,209 | 2,024 |
| 21 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA · Public | $14,017 69% of the leader · rank #21 | $11,841 | $12,739 | $34,717 | 7,128 |
| 22 | Carlson College of Massage Therapy Anamosa, IA · Private for-profit | $14,141 69% of the leader · rank #22 | $12,844 | - | - | 19 |
| 23 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA · Public | $14,629 67% of the leader · rank #23 | $13,099 | $11,033 | $35,628 | 5,503 |
| 24 | Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA · Public | $14,800 67% of the leader · rank #24 | $10,368 | $9,500 | $49,635 | 1,792 |
| 25 | La James International College-Ft Dodge Fort Dodge, IA · Private for-profit | $14,824 67% of the leader · rank #25 | $13,765 | - | $20,209 | 20 |
See all 68 ranked Iowa schools →
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofit | $14,956 67% of the leader · rank #26 | $14,269 | $24,781 | $26,468 | 2,666 |
| 27 | Capri College-Dubuque Dubuque, IA · Private for-profit | $15,660 65% of the leader · rank #27 | $13,322 | $7,600 | $24,838 | 153 |
| 28 | La James International College-Johnston Johnston, IA · Private for-profit | $15,759 65% of the leader · rank #28 | $14,147 | - | $24,808 | 113 |
| 29 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA · Public | $15,901 65% of the leader · rank #29 | $10,863 | $19,691 | $47,222 | 9,013 |
| 30 | Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny, IA · Private nonprofit | $16,282 64% of the leader · rank #30 | $14,121 | $12,971 | $33,372 | 586 |
| 31 | Capri College-Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA · Private for-profit | $16,541 63% of the leader · rank #31 | $15,195 | $7,600 | $23,433 | 128 |
| 32 | Capri College-Davenport Davenport, IA · Private for-profit | $16,635 63% of the leader · rank #32 | $12,491 | $7,600 | $27,848 | 142 |
| 33 | Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City Sioux City, IA · Private for-profit | $16,878 62% of the leader · rank #33 | $17,449 | $13,389 | $21,111 | 40 |
| 34 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofit | $17,648 61% of the leader · rank #34 | $9,970 | $17,500 | $49,004 | 1,775 |
| 35 | La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA · Private for-profit | $17,813 60% of the leader · rank #35 | $16,632 | - | $19,736 | 123 |
| 36 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA · Private nonprofit | $18,504 59% of the leader · rank #36 | $15,875 | $21,212 | $40,792 | 1,195 |
| 37 | Aveda Institute-Des Moines West Des Moines, IA · Private for-profit | $18,552 59% of the leader · rank #37 | $18,486 | $8,461 | $35,130 | 179 |
| 38 | La James International College-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA · Private for-profit | $18,569 59% of the leader · rank #38 | $17,295 | - | $21,855 | 40 |
| 39 | Iowa State University Ames, IA · Public | $18,589 59% of the leader · rank #39 | $10,582 | $22,869 | $53,873 | 30,177 |
| 40 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit | $18,745 58% of the leader · rank #40 | $11,479 | $27,000 | $47,136 | 1,278 |
| 41 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit | $18,846 58% of the leader · rank #41 | $12,901 | $25,000 | $43,572 | 1,951 |
| 42 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA · Private for-profit | $19,693 56% of the leader · rank #42 | $16,448 | $18,752 | $50,515 | 2,657 |
| 43 | St Luke's College Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit | $19,820 56% of the leader · rank #43 | - | $15,000 | $54,850 | 196 |
| 44 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit | $20,168 55% of the leader · rank #44 | $17,070 | $23,699 | $52,871 | 1,451 |
| 45 | Ross College-Davenport Davenport, IA · Private for-profit | $20,254 55% of the leader · rank #45 | $19,722 | $9,500 | $28,207 | 40 |
| 46 | PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA · Private for-profit | $20,533 54% of the leader · rank #46 | $22,393 | $5,828 | $26,492 | 170 |
| 47 | Loras College Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $20,716 54% of the leader · rank #47 | $20,479 | $26,000 | $46,069 | 1,213 |
| 48 | PCI Academy-Iowa City Iowa City, IA · Private for-profit | $20,938 53% of the leader · rank #48 | $20,690 | $5,828 | $26,492 | 103 |
| 49 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit | $20,942 53% of the leader · rank #49 | $17,715 | $25,000 | $48,776 | 3,102 |
| 50 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | $21,774 52% of the leader · rank #50 | $18,512 | $22,500 | $47,582 | 1,796 |
| 51 | Simpson College Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit | $21,936 51% of the leader · rank #51 | $17,941 | $26,000 | $49,946 | 1,163 |
| 52 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public | $22,531 50% of the leader · rank #52 | $15,316 | $22,500 | $52,696 | 30,042 |
| 53 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit | $22,601 50% of the leader · rank #53 | $20,608 | $22,415 | $40,189 | 1,536 |
| 54 | Luther College Decorah, IA · Private nonprofit | $23,097 49% of the leader · rank #54 | $12,517 | $27,000 | $49,541 | 1,463 |
| 55 | Central College Pella, IA · Private nonprofit | $23,377 48% of the leader · rank #55 | $16,231 | $26,984 | $49,115 | 1,095 |
| 56 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $23,386 48% of the leader · rank #56 | $18,106 | $25,750 | $44,960 | 1,795 |
| 57 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofit | $23,634 47% of the leader · rank #57 | $16,409 | $27,000 | $39,299 | 1,084 |
| 58 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit | $23,907 47% of the leader · rank #58 | $17,764 | $23,250 | $48,338 | 940 |
| 59 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $24,479 46% of the leader · rank #59 | $23,405 | $26,717 | $49,157 | 1,025 |
| 60 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA · Private nonprofit | $24,691 45% of the leader · rank #60 | $22,037 | $25,000 | $51,616 | 2,703 |
| 61 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofit | $25,807 43% of the leader · rank #61 | $22,597 | $21,500 | $50,551 | 1,929 |
| 62 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA · Private nonprofit | $25,907 42% of the leader · rank #62 | $27,059 | $23,249 | $46,731 | 1,665 |
| 63 | Orion Technical College Davenport, IA · Private for-profit | $26,439 41% of the leader · rank #63 | $26,117 | $9,500 | $35,488 | 73 |
| 64 | Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | $26,924 40% of the leader · rank #64 | $24,171 | $14,745 | $53,375 | 907 |
| 65 | Drake University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | $29,127 35% of the leader · rank #65 | $25,824 | $23,000 | $58,233 | 4,504 |
| 66 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit | $31,320 30% of the leader · rank #66 | $33,738 | $26,028 | $47,687 | 2,158 |
| 67 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA · Private nonprofit | $32,908 27% of the leader · rank #67 | $21,688 | $27,000 | $48,795 | 1,472 |
| 68 | Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School Urbandale, IA · Private for-profit | $44,980 4% of the leader · rank #68 | $44,980 | - | - | 36 |
What this means for you
Use Iowa's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology reports the lowest average net price in Iowa, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View La James College
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Iowa safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.