Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | Official website
Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | Official website
Data shows that students paid $11,929 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $269 more than the previous school year.
Among the eight institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Drake University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $47,912. Grand View University followed with an average of $32,068 per year. Des Moines Area Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,393.
At the time, at least $38.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Polk County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $8.5 million.
Currently there are nine higher education institutions in Polk County, including Mercy College of Health Sciences, Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, and La James International College-Johnston.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Of the nine institutions in Polk County, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines | 18 | $96,757 | $5,375 | 12 | $78,663 | $6,555 |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | 41 | $285,902 | $6,973 | 26 | $318,427 | $12,247 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary | 106 | $1,249,894 | $11,791 | 40 | $177,971 | $4,449 |
| Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Grand View University | 330 | $7,906,599 | $23,959 | 237 | $1,585,434 | $6,690 |
| La James International College-Johnston | 37 | $195,805 | $5,292 | 37 | $177,454 | $4,796 |
| Drake University | 728 | $23,138,074 | $31,783 | 388 | $3,715,238 | $9,575 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | 1,044 | $5,430,189 | $5,201 | 489 | $2,427,533 | $4,964 |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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