Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in Iowa 2026

Marshalltown Community College leads this list with an average net price of $8,059 per year. EduGradify shows 25 colleges here after checking federal net-price and earnings data.

The lowest-net-price colleges in Iowa that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $8,059
Top earnings 10y: $63,386
Public / Private: 12 / 13

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $8,059
Net price: $8,059
Earnings 10y: $41,010
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $9,328
Net price: $9,328
Earnings 10y: $42,046
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $9,649
Net price: $9,649
Earnings 10y: $42,849
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $9,705
Net price: $9,705
Earnings 10y: $41,016
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Indian Hills Community College

Ottumwa, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $10,693
Net price: $10,693
Earnings 10y: $40,507
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Northeast Iowa Community College

Calmar, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $11,272
Net price: $11,272
Earnings 10y: $41,306
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $11,451
Net price: $11,451
Earnings 10y: $40,562
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $13,933
Net price: $13,933
Earnings 10y: $43,108
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $14,629
Net price: $14,629
Earnings 10y: $42,793
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Northwest Iowa Community College

Sheldon, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $14,800
Net price: $14,800
Earnings 10y: $50,776
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

Maharishi International University

Fairfield, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $14,956
Net price: $14,956
Earnings 10y: $27,981
Acceptance: 95.7%

#12

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $15,901
Net price: $15,901
Earnings 10y: $55,177
Acceptance: 92.7%

#13

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Ankeny, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $16,282
Net price: $16,282
Earnings 10y: $40,650
Acceptance: 67.5%

#14

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $17,648
Net price: $17,648
Earnings 10y: $62,830
Acceptance: 14.5%

#15

Graceland University-Lamoni

Lamoni, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $18,504
Net price: $18,504
Earnings 10y: $47,361
Acceptance: 80.8%

#16

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

Net price/yr: $18,589
Net price: $18,589
Earnings 10y: $63,386
Acceptance: 88.7%

#17

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $18,745
Net price: $18,745
Earnings 10y: $57,125
Acceptance: 64%

#18

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $18,846
Net price: $18,846
Earnings 10y: $49,156
Acceptance: 77.6%

#19

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $19,693
Net price: $19,693
Earnings 10y: $51,165
Acceptance: 77%

#20

St Luke's College

Sioux City, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $19,820
Net price: $19,820
Earnings 10y: $61,033
Acceptance: 80%

#21

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $20,168
Net price: $20,168
Earnings 10y: $60,787
Acceptance: 82.5%

#22

Loras College

Dubuque, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $20,716
Net price: $20,716
Earnings 10y: $58,289
Acceptance: 99.9%

#23

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $20,942
Net price: $20,942
Earnings 10y: $52,766
Acceptance: 96.5%

#24

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $21,774
Net price: $21,774
Earnings 10y: $52,824
Acceptance: 99.1%

#25

Simpson College

Indianola, IA · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $21,936
Net price: $21,936
Earnings 10y: $59,274
Acceptance: 86.2%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Iowa colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.09 (12 public, 13 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, IA tops this ranking. Average net price is $8,059 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Iowa colleges are in this list?

40 Iowa colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.