Cost of Instruction

Higher tuition rates are assessed based on a student’s program of study and progression within that program. The timing varies by major and is outlined in the timeline chart on this webpage. Some majors assess the higher tuition rate upon entry into the degree program, while others assess the higher rate as students advance to upper‑division coursework.

Upper‑division status is reviewed at the beginning of each semester and includes students who meet the applicable credit criteria by the 10th day of the academic term. For example, a student who does not meet the credit requirement by the 10th day of the semester (such as a student with 57 credits) would not be charged the higher tuition rate during that academic term.

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 college credit while in high school, but not all of those credits may apply toward their Iowa State degree.

Students who enter Iowa State directly from high school and are enrolled in programs with higher cost of instruction will not be assessed at the higher tuition rate until they complete the minimum number of semesters shown in the table above. This applies even if they earned more than the credit threshold through high school coursework.

Semester counts include summer terms and apply regardless of whether the student is enrolled. Tuition rates that are assessed upon entry into a specific 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.”