Real costs by school · Ames, IA · Public
At Iowa State University, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $19,605 per year — the published cost of attendance is $24,018. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)
| Household income | Avg net price / yr | ≈ four years* |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $10,582 / yr | $44,603 |
| $30–48k | $11,506 / yr | $48,498 |
| $48–75k | $15,463 / yr | $65,177 |
| $75–110k | $19,605 / yr | $82,635 |
| Over $110k | $22,496 / yr | $94,821 |
*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.
What are your student's real admit chances? The math, shown →
Early Decision: when the binding bet is worth it →
| Admit rate | 89% published — federal data |
|---|
Nine questions, then Iowa State University's odds for your student with the math shown — plus your income band's price and its deadlines. First three schools free.
Run Iowa State University for your student →At $75,000–$110,000 of household income, the distance between Iowa State University's published sticker price and what families in that band actually paid is $4,413 a year — a 18% discount off the number on the brochure. Graduates report a median $63,386 10 years out — roughly 77% of the four-year cost at this income band.
Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run Iowa State University against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, the paperwork it requires, and its deadlines on one plan. First three schools free.
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