Find your tuition

Use the Find Your Tuition tool to search for tuition and mandatory fee rates based on your program of study.

Information for students in distance education programs

Tuition and fees are subject to change by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

Tuition and Fees

  • Students enrolled exclusively in distance education programs are assessed tuition and a mandatory technology fee based on their program of study and the number of credits for which they are enrolled.
  • Students who are enrolled in both a distance education program and an on‑campus program will be assessed tuition based on residency, along with applicable fees, including the activity fee, health fee, health facility fee, and technology fee.

Program Eligibility 

  • Only approved distance education programs of study are eligible for distance education tuition and fees. 
  • Individual online courses do not qualify for distance education tuition and fees unless the student is enrolled exclusively in an approved distance education program of study.

If you have questions about whether your program qualifies, please contact Iowa State Online.

Additional Information

  • Estimated cost of attendance information is available on the Office of Student Financial Aid website.
  • Courses offered through the Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA) are eligible for the IDEA tuition rates listed below. For questions about IDEA courses, please contact Iowa State Online.
     

Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA)

Cost Per Credit

  • Fall 2025 - Summer 2026: $448 per credit
  • Fall 2026 - Summer 2027: $448 per credit

IDEA Tuition by Credit Hours

IDEA Credits
1 23456789101112
Tuition Cost 
$448$896$1344$1792$2240$2688$3136$3584$4032$4480$4928$5376
Additional Information
  • Students are assessed tuition for all IDEA credits.
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in more than 12 IDEA credits should calculate tuition by multiplying the total number of IDEA credits by $448 per credit.
  • Iowa State students enrolling in both IDEA credits and Iowa State credits will be assessed tuition at the applicable rate for each type of credit. IDEA credits are not assessed mandatory fees, while Iowa State credits will be assessed mandatory fees based on the number of credits taken.

IDEA Undergraduate Programs of Study

Undergraduate Certificate Programs

  • Occupational Safety Undergraduate Certificate (Distance)
  • Swine Science Undergraduate Certificate (Distance)

Undergraduate Degree Program

  • Early Childcare Education and Programming, B.S. (Distance)

Cost Per Credit

  • Fall 2025 - Summer 2026: $622 per credit
  • Fall 2026 - Summer 2027: $622 per credit

IDEA Tuition by Credit Hours

IDEA Credits
123456789
Tuition Cost
$622$1244$1866$2488$3110$3732$4354$4976$5598
Additional Information
  • Students are assessed tuition for all IDEA credits.
  • Graduate students enrolled in more than 9 IDEA credits should calculate tuition by multiplying the total number of IDEA credits by $622 per credit.
  • Iowa State students enrolling in both IDEA credits and Iowa State credits will be assessed tuition at the applicable rate for each type of credit. IDEA credits are not assessed mandatory fees, while Iowa State credits will be assessed mandatory fees based on the number of credits taken.

IDEA Graduate Programs of Study

Graduate Certificate Programs

  • Early Childhood and Family Policy Graduate Certificate (Distance)
  • Family Financial Planning Graduate Certificate (Distance)
  • Food Safety and Defense Graduate Certificate (Distance)
  • Gerontology Graduate Certificate (Distance)
  • Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate (Distance)
  • Youth Program Management and Evaluation Graduate Certificate (Distance)

Graduate Degree Program

  • Family and Consumer Sciences, M.F.C.S. (Distance)

Questions?

For questions regarding tuition and fees, please call 515-294-1840 or email tuition@iastate.edu.