Iowa universities charging more in 2022-23 school year

Average tuition fees rose 2.9% for college students in Iowa in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $16,159 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $461 more than the previous school year.

Among the 69 institutions providing full disclosure in the state, Grinnell College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $61,480. Coe College followed with an average of $50,664 per year. Eastern Iowa Community College District students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,649.

Currently there are 72 higher education institutions in Iowa.

At the time, at least $358.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started college in Iowa. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $113.6 million.

Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.

According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.

Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.

Of the 72 institutions in Iowa, three did not provide detailed data on tuition fees, including Palmer College of Chiropractic, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology, and Mercy-St Luke’s School of Radiologic Technology.

Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.