Head-to-head · 2026
Iowa Lakes Community College vs Iowa State University
Compare average net price ($13,933 at Iowa Lakes Community College; $18,589 at Iowa State University), ROI score (7.73 vs 8.52), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($43,108 vs $63,386), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Iowa Lakes Community College; 88.7% at Iowa State University) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Iowa Lakes Community College | Iowa State University |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 7.73 | 8.52 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $13,933 ✓ | $18,589 |
| 4-year avg net price | $55,732 ✓ | $74,356 |
| In-state tuition | $7,392 | $10,787 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $7,872 | $28,881 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $43,108 | $63,386 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 88.7% |
| Graduation rate | 50% | 75.3% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 60.9% | 87.6% ✓ |
| Median debt | $12,000 ✓ | $22,869 |
| Enrollment | 941 | 25,367 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 1204 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Iowa Lakes Community College | Iowa State University |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $11,420 | $10,582 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $11,764 | $11,506 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $13,097 ✓ | $15,463 |
| Family income $75–110k | $16,461 ✓ | $19,605 |
| Family income $110k+ | $17,325 ✓ | $22,496 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Iowa Lakes Community College | Iowa State University |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 46.6% | 0.8% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Design and Applied Arts | 1.6% | 2.9% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4.2% | 0.1% |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 1.9% | 2% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 2.9% | 0.5% |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3.2% | 0.1% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Iowa Lakes Community College reports the lower average net price by $4,656 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $18,624 difference over four years ($55,732 vs $74,356).
Iowa State University reports $20,278 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($63,386 vs $43,108). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 60.9% at Iowa Lakes Community College and 87.6% at Iowa State University. Median federal debt among completers is $12,000 vs $22,869, respectively.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Iowa Lakes Community College vs Iowa State University, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Iowa Lakes Community College is cheaper — average net price $13,933 per year vs $18,589 at Iowa State University. The annual difference of $4,656 adds up to about $18,624 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Iowa State University reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $63,386 vs $43,108 at Iowa Lakes Community College. The gap in the federal data is $20,278. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.