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Community-college tuition in Iowa

Published in-state tuition for community colleges in Iowa, ranked highest to lowest. Use this as a quick reference for comparing the published price tag across institutions; for a full picture of what you'll actually pay, see each college's profile and our cost-and-aid guide for Iowa.

  1. St Luke's CollegeSioux City, IA$24,175
  2. Southwestern Community CollegeCreston, IA$8,064
  3. Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville, IA$7,392
  4. Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA$6,780
  5. North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City, IA$6,653
  6. Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA$6,525
  7. Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA$6,176
  8. Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa Falls, IA$5,496
  9. Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA$5,496
  10. Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA$5,040
  11. Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA$4,848

How to read this table

The published rate is what the institution charges before financial aid is applied. Iowa community colleges are funded through a combination of state appropriations, local tax support (in many states), and student tuition; the public colleges on this list are required to publish their tuition schedules and report them annually to the U.S. Department of Education. Private nonprofit and private for-profit two-year colleges in Iowa report similarly but may not benefit from state subsidy, which is why their tuition rates can be substantially higher.

Tuition alone is the smallest component of a community-college cost decision for most students. The full annual cost of attendance — including required fees, books, supplies, transportation, and (when applicable) room and board — is consistently several times the tuition figure shown here. Federal Pell Grants, state grant programs in Iowa, and institutional aid typically reduce the out-of-pocket cost dramatically, often to zero for the lowest-income students. Always file the FAFSA before you decide which community college is most affordable for you personally; the answer based on real cost is frequently different from the answer based on sticker price.

If you are not a Iowa resident, expect a meaningfully higher tuition rate at most public community colleges in the state. Out-of-state tuition is reported on each college's full profile.