The Cheapest Colleges in Iowa by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in Iowa but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Iowa for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published out of state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in Iowa list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our Iowa tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in Iowa are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in Iowa? Leading the colleges list is University of Phoenix Des Moines Campus in West Des Moines with an out of state total cost of $17,310.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 University of Phoenix Des Moines CampusWest Des Moines, Private For Profit |
$17,310 | NA | NA |
#2 Divine Word CollegeEpworth, Private Not For Profit |
$18,500 | NA | NA |
#3 Purdue Global Des Moines CampusUrbandale, Private For Profit |
$19,302 | NA | NA |
#4 Purdue Global Cedar Falls CampusCedar Falls, Private For Profit |
$19,302 | NA | NA |
#5 Purdue Global Davenport CampusDavenport, Private For Profit |
$19,302 | NA | NA |
#6 Purdue Global Cedar Rapids CampusCedar Rapids, Private For Profit |
$19,302 | NA | NA |
#7 Purdue Global Mason City CampusMason City, Private For Profit |
$19,302 | NA | NA |
#8 Palmer College of Chiropractic DavenportDavenport, Private Not For Profit |
$19,919 | NA | NA |
#9 Purdue Global Council Bluffs CampusCouncil Bluffs, Private For Profit |
$20,300 | NA | NA |
#10 AIB College of BusinessDes Moines, Private Not For Profit |
$22,185 | NA | NA |
#11 Hamilton Technical CollegeDavenport, Private For Profit |
$22,475 | NA | NA |
#12 Maharishi University of ManagementFairfield, Private Not For Profit |
$24,930 | NA | NA |
#13 Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, Private Not For Profit |
$26,821 | 40 | 34 |
#14 Allen CollegeWaterloo, Private Not For Profit |
$28,198 | NA | NA |
#15 Mercy College of Health SciencesDes Moines, Private Not For Profit |
$28,484 | 57 | 24 |
#16 Emmaus Bible CollegeDubuque, Private Not For Profit |
$29,100 | 54 | 73 |
#17 University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, Public Not For Profit |
$29,713 | 57 | 37 |
#18 Central CollegePella, Private Not For Profit |
$31,143 | 58 | 98 |
#19 Waldorf CollegeForest City, Private For Profit |
$33,114 | NA | NA |
#20 Iowa State UniversityAmes, Public Not For Profit |
$35,534 | 59 | 67 |