Iowa State University In-State Rules

In-state residency regulations vary by university; so do the costs and benefits of earning in-state status.  Below, you will find an overview of the major in-state requirements for Iowa State University, an exact accounting of what’s at stake, as well as a consideration of in-state residency’s influence on financial aid including popular Iowa State University grants and scholarships.

Nicknames:

Iowa, Iowa State, ISU, ISU-Ames, Iowa State Univerity-Ames

 

Iowa State University Tuition Overview:

$20,617 out-of-state tuition

$7,731 in-state tuition

$12,886 tuition savings/year

 

Iowa State University Total Cost of Attendance:

$31,916 out-of-state residents

$19,030 in-state residents

$12,886 savings/year

 

Iowa State University In-State Requirements:

Iowa State University, although much less strict that University of Iowa when it comes to earning in-state residency, is no simple formality and in fact poses some major obstacles to many people desiring in-state status—therefore ISA believes it’s cleverly designed.  It seems do-able but perhaps requiring more sacrifice than desirable for a total savings that is substantial but not massively life-changing.

But it’s there and you can have it; in-state can be yours if you are qualified to make it happen, have some forethought, execute, and make it happen.  It’s worth the journey and In-State Angels can help you every step of the way to make sure you have the right strategy, you do exactly what you need to, and you’re able to prove it.  You could think of ISA like training wheels which make it impossible for you to fail.  The caveat there is that we only take on select clients who we know are qualified to begin.

Here’s what we’re looking for in a good candidate for in-state tuition at Iowa State University

• Must be firmly committed to planting your flag in Iowa
• Will need to sever all ties to other states
• Must remain in Iowa throughout the year with very limited absences, especially limited during academic breaks (you can obviously leave from time to time)
• Must be willing to attend a maximum of part-time school during your one-year domicile period
• Less school for a year can be great, so check out Top 6 Gap-Year Pros and Cons for Out-of-State College Hopefuls.
• In your free time (since only part-time school) work in Iowa a little bit at least!
• You’ve gotta have a degree of financial independence meaning you’re on the hook for paying half your way through the domicile period

If that sounds impossible to you, then give up now.  If that sound possible and worth further consideration, we strongly suggest the following options as a next step.

 

Want more, a definitive report detailing everything important you need to know?  Check out In-State Angels’ ISU-Ames Report.

If you’d prefer we just take your information and tell you what your in-state prospects are at ISU, you may want In-State Angels’ ISU-Ames Customized Report.

To discuss ISU with an expert, check out Consulting.

Or maybe you’re interested in having In-State Angels completely oversee your quest for in-state residency and guarantee your results, you may want to check out In-State Angels’ Full-Client Assessment.

 

Iowa State University Out-of-State Tuition vs. In-State Tuition:

An annual tuition difference of $12,886 is substantial.  When looked at over the course of a four-year education the total difference in cost between in-state and out-of-state tuition is $51,544.

Iowa State University Financial Aid:

A couple things you need to know about financial aid as it relates to earning in-state residency at Iowa State University:

1) Any financial aid including grants and scholarships that requires your being a tax dependent of somebody OR requires you to be an out-of-state resident will in general disqualify you from establishing residency.  This means that by accepting such awards, you will be getting no closer to in-state tuition.  There are some exceptions to this whereby certain awards you can accept during your domicile period but will automatically surrender upon earning in-state status.

2) Your financial aid is re-assessed after earning in-state status and your Expected Family Contribution will be taken into consideration in light of the vastly reduced tuition you will owe.

See article: Do Your FAFSA…You Will Thank Us Later

 

Iowa State University Grants:

In addition to standard federal grants (Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), Iowa residents are also eligible for the Iowa Grant, which is between $100 and $1,000 per year for up to four years, based on financial need.

Iowa State University Scholarships:

Academic Recognition Awards

Academic Recognition Awards are automatically awarded to residents and nonresidents based on their school ranking, GPA, test scores, and other criteria.  Nonresidents that ranked in the top 25% of their high school can receive as much as $4,500.  These awards are renewable for four years..

George Washington Carver Project Excellence Scholarship

African-American students from the Washington, DC area that get invited to the Carl Rowan Project Excellence College Fair compete for awards that pay four years of tuition, fees, room and board, and a $1,000 stipend.

Departmental Scholarships

Iowa State has a huge number of departmental scholarships.  Each department has a separate website that discusses their scholarship opportunities.  For instance, the College of Business’s Benjamin and Patricia Allen Scholarship is for first-generation college students, and is renewable for four years.  For links to the various departments, click here.

All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship

The State of Iowa provides scholarship money for Iowa residents with a minimum 2.5 GPA and demonstrate high level of financial need.  The scholarship will cover at least one year of tuition.