Cost of Instruction

Students in programs that charge higher tuition typically begin paying the higher rate as juniors and seniors (upper division status), once they have completed 60 credits. This is the point where much of students’ coursework is concentrated in their major.

Upper-division status is evaluated at the beginning of each semester. A student with 57 credits at the beginning of the semester, for example, would not pay the higher rate.

Yes. However, most students typically take only 1-2 classes during the summer, so in those cases the higher rates would be assessed per credit hour.

Iowa State strives to provide a quality education to every student, and financial resources are important to meeting that goal. Class sizes tend to get smaller during the second half of students’ degree programs, featuring increased levels of specialization, additional laboratory and experiential learning opportunities, and, in many cases, more personalized interaction with faculty.

According to a recent Board of Regents report, the FY2015 undergraduate cost of instruction – which represents actual costs related to instruction, research, academic support, student services, and other items – was $12,682 for upper-division students, compared to $9,008 for lower division students, a $3,600 difference.

Charging the higher tuition rate also helps ensure that students in programs with lower instructional costs are not subsidizing the students who choose to major in higher cost programs.

Many students earn a substantial number of college credits in high school, but in some cases, not all of those credits may transfer to their degree programs. However, students entering Iowa State directly from high school will pay the higher tuition rate no earlier than their seventh semester (number of semesters includes summer, and counts regardless of registration status), even if they have more than 60 credits due to credit earned in high school. (Tuition rates based on entrance into program are not included in this policy).

Iowa State programs that charge higher tuition rates use the added revenue to hire additional faculty, which lowers the university’s student-faculty ratio; maintain high-quality laboratory equipment and staff; and expand high-impact experiential learning opportunities for students.

Iowa State takes the issue of affordability very seriously, and launched several programs and initiatives to help students manage and even lower their debt:

• ISU has led efforts to raise millions of dollars for student scholarships through its Moving Students Forward initiative.
• The average debt load for Iowa State graduates has declined.
• The Office of Student Financial Success, established in 2014, provides one-on-one advising to help students understand budgeting, responsible borrowing, and how to “live like a student.”