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Is Iowa State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Iowa State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Iowa State lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $22,869 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $63,386, but the margin is not huge. For context, Iowa State's net price runs about 32% above the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$17,354
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $4,200 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $17,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$18,589
Median earnings 10 years out
$63,386
Median debt at graduation
$22,869
Graduation rate
75%
At Iowa State, a typical graduate carries about $22,869 in student debt and earns roughly $63,386 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $260 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Iowa State is a public four year school in Ames, IA. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
Worth-It Score: 71/100
Median net price: $15,901
Public 4-year
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Worth-It Score: 71/100
Median net price: $22,531
Public 4-year
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $18,551
Public 4-year
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
Cobleskill, NY
Worth-It Score: 48/100
Median net price: $18,701
Public 4-year
Central Washington
Ellensburg, WA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $18,476
Common questions about Iowa State
The median net price at Iowa State is $18,589 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Iowa? See the most affordable public universities in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →