Iowa Housing Costs

$12,920 On-Campus Room Typical Cost

$4,066 On-Campus Meals Typical Cost

$950 Books & Supplies Typical Cost

$4,066 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

How Much Will it Cost to Live at Iowa?

Understanding all of the expenses related to attending college can allow you to make the best decision at University of Iowa.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Living Expenses at Iowa

This school bundles housing and dining options together into one package. The on-campus cost for any typical student was about $12,920 in 2026. Altogether, a typical on-campus student at University of Iowa budgeted around $22,002 in 2026 in total yearly living costs beyond tuition.

The following table outlines average expected costs for both on-campus and off-campus housing, meals and other expenses at University of Iowa.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$16,986	$16,986
— Housing	$12,920
— Meals	$4,066
Other Living Expenses	$4,066	$4,066
Books and Supplies	$950	$950
Total	$22,002	$22,002

Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses? Forecasted Cost is $93,756

Like tuition, room and board usually rises a little each year. Projecting the trend helps you plan for all four years instead of only the first.

Over the course of obtaining your degree, expect on-campus living costs near $93,756 in room, board and other essentials.

Here is how combined on-campus room and board has moved over the last few reported years, with a projection of where it is headed, at University of Iowa.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$15,466
Two Years Ago	$15,580
One Year Ago	$16,682
Most Recent Year (2026)	$16,986
One Year From Now *	$17,542
Two Years From Now *	$18,117
Three Years From Now *	$18,710
Four Years From Now *	$19,323

* estimated

Year over year, room and board rose an average of 3.3% a year over the last three years. Carrying that rate forward one year puts on-campus living costs near $22,558 in housing, food and other costs their first year.

Projected forward, the last year of a four-year degree runs about $24,339 for a bachelor’s program; a two-year student would see about $23,133 in the final year of a two-year (associate) degree.

Over the entire degree (assuming you graduate on time), the total comes to about $93,756 over four years — compared with roughly $45,691 for a two-year stay.