Head-to-head comparison
Iowa State University vs University of Iowa: 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 Iowa City, IA
University of Iowa
- Net price / year
- $22,531
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,762
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Iowa State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,356 in 4.9 years versus 5.5 years at University of Iowa, on median earnings of $63,386 vs $64,762 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Iowa State University | University of Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,589 | $22,531 |
| Total net cost | $74,356 | $90,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,386 | $64,762 |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $226,164 | $237,916 |
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 University of Iowa?
Iowa State University, at $18,589 a year after aid versus $22,531 — a gap of $3,942 a year, or $15,768 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 University of Iowa graduates earn more?
University of Iowa graduates report a median $64,762 ten years after entry, $1,376 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 University of Iowa?
University of Iowa: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $22,869 at Iowa State University, a difference of $369. 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 75% at University of Iowa. 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.