Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance is an estimate of costs of being enrolled for one year at Iowa State University. Each student is assigned a financial aid budget based on their estimated cost of attendance, which is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid they need. To help with understanding your cost of attendance, planning tools are available. Some of these tools can help you create budgets and lay out costs specific to your enrollment situation.
When considering costs of attendance, please note:
- Total costs for attending Iowa State University may vary based on students' lifestyles, majors, academic colleges, and academic progress
- Student tuition, fees, and charges for room & board in university housing are set by the Iowa Board of Regents
- Room & Board costs refer to the varied housing and dining choices made by the student; more information is available from the Department of Residence and ISU Dining
- Summer costs of attendance vary depending on each student's situation — see Tuition and Fees for more information
- Juniors and seniors in some colleges are assessed tuition at a higher rate — see Tuition and Fees for more information
Costs by Classification
| UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS Fall & Spring — All Years | ||||||
| Resident | Non-Resident | |||||
| Year | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 |
| Tuition & Fees | $7,486 | $7,726 | $7,726 | $19,357 | $19,838 | $20,278 |
| Room & Board | $7,622 | $7,721 | $7,721 | $7,622 | $7,721 | $7,721 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,044 | $1,043 | $1,043 | $1,044 | $1,041 | $1,041 |
| Total University Expenses | $16,152 | $16,490 | $16,490 | $28,023 | $28,600 | $29,040 |
| Anticipated Personal Expenses | $2,370 | $2,430 | $2,430 | $2,370 | $2,430 | $2,430 |
| Total Expected Cost of Attendance (rounded) | $18,520 | $18,920 | $18,920 | $30,390 | $31,030 | $31,470 |
| GRADUATE STUDENTS Fall & Spring — All Years | ||||||
| Resident | Non-Resident | |||||
| Year | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 |
| Tuition & Fees | $8,508 | $8,788 | $8,880 | $20,224 | $20,728 | $21,190 |
| Room & Board | $7,895 | $8,160 | $8,160 | $7,895 | $8,160 | $8,160 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,044 | $1,042 | $1,040 | $1,044 | $1,042 | $1,040 |
| Total University Expenses | $17,447 | $17,990 | $18,080 | $29,163 | $29,930 | $30,390 |
| Anticipated Personal Expenses | $2,910 | $2,990 | $2,990 | $2,910 | $2,990 | $2,990 |
| Total Expected Cost of Attendance (rounded) | $20,360 | $20,980 | $21,070 | $32,070 | $32,920 | $33,380 |
| VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS Fall & Spring — Years 1, 2, 3 | ||||||
| Resident | Non-Resident | |||||
| Year | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 |
| Tuition & Fees | $18,534 | $19,582 | $20,230 | $41,068 | $42,468 | $43,918 |
| Room & Board | $7,895 | $8,160 | $8,160 | $7,895 | $8,160 | $8,160 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,044 | $1,048 | $1,040 | $1,044 | $1,042 | $1,042 |
| Total University Expenses | $27,473 | $28,790 | $29,430 | $50,007 | $51,670 | $53,120 |
| Anticipated Personal Expenses | $3,230 | $3,320 | $3,320 | $3,230 | $3,320 | $3,320 |
| Total Expected Cost of Attendance (rounded) | $30,700 | $32,110 | $32,750 | $53,240 | $54,990 | $56,440 |
| VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS "Summer", Fall & Spring — Year 4 | ||||||
| Resident | Non-Resident | |||||
| Year | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 | '11-'12 | '12-'13 | '13-'14 |
| Tuition & Fees | $27,170 | $28,717 | $28,277 | $49,406 | $51,085 | $51,167 |
| Room & Board | $11,596 | $11,985 | $11,985 | $11,596 | $11,985 | $11,985 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,566 | $1,572 | $1,564 | $1,566 | $1,570 | $1,570 |
| Total University Expenses | $40,332 | $42,274 | $41,826 | $62,568 | $64,640 | $64,722 |
| Anticipated Personal Expenses | $4,679 | $4,895 | $4,895 | $4,679 | $4,895 | $4,895 |
| Total Expected Cost of Attendance (rounded) | $45,010 | $47,170 | $46,720 | $67,250 | $69,540 | $69,620 |