Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Iowa
Colleges whose average price after grants is furthest below their published sticker price.
Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Iowa16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by discount off the sticker price.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a sticker price (cost of attendance) and a net price (average yearly cost after grants) from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by the discount, sticker price minus net price, largest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- $65,792 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,648 a year
- 2
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- $48,627 off the sticker price
- Net price $18,745 a year
- 3
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $42,615 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,634 a year
- 4
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- $42,364 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,097 a year
- 5
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- $39,291 off the sticker price
- Net price $21,936 a year
- 6
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit#3 in Iowa
- $35,708 off the sticker price
- Net price $29,127 a year
- 7
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $31,451 off the sticker price
- Net price $32,908 a year
- 8
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- $29,821 off the sticker price
- Net price $20,716 a year
- 9
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $26,450 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,691 a year
- 10
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- $25,926 off the sticker price
- Net price $25,807 a year
- 11
Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit#2 in Iowa
- $17,785 off the sticker price
- Net price $13,186 a year
- 12
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $14,396 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,377 a year
- 13
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- $7,827 off the sticker price
- Net price $19,820 a year
- 14
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- $6,377 off the sticker price
- Net price $15,901 a year
- 15
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- $6,065 off the sticker price
- Net price $22,531 a year
- 16
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- $5,429 off the sticker price
- Net price $18,589 a year
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College | $17,648 | $17,500 | $62,830 | 88% |
| Coe College | $18,745 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| Cornell College | $23,634 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| Luther College | $23,097 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| Drake University | $29,127 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Dordt University | $25,807 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| Emmaus Bible College | $13,186 | $15,750 | $42,631 | 83% |
| Central College | $23,377 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| St. Luke's College | $19,820 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $15,901 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| University of Iowa | $22,531 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Iowa State University | $18,589 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15