Head-to-head comparison
Iowa State University vs Drake University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ames, IA
Iowa State University
- Net price / year
- $18,589
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,386
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Option B Des Moines, IA
Drake University
- Net price / year
- $29,127
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,901
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Drake University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,508 in 4.9 years versus 4.9 years at Iowa State University, on median earnings of $71,901 vs $63,386 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Iowa State University | Drake University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,589 | $29,127 |
| Total net cost | $74,356 | $116,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,386 | $71,901 |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 4.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $226,164 | $354,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Iowa State University or Drake University?
Iowa State University, at $18,589 a year after aid versus $29,127 — a gap of $10,538 a year, or $42,152 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Iowa State University or Drake University graduates earn more?
Drake University graduates report a median $71,901 ten years after entry, $8,515 more than the $63,386 at Iowa State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Iowa State University or Drake University?
Iowa State University: its completers carry a median $22,869 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Drake University, a difference of $131. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Iowa State University, against 74% at Drake University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.