Financial Aid

Estimated Direct Expenses: $7,336

• Tuition and Student Activity Fee: $6,786
• Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment: $550

Estimated Indirect Expenses: $14,039

• Off-Campus Housing and Food: $10,340
• Personal and Transportation: $3,638
• Loan fees, if you borrow Federal loans: $61

Total Estimated Cost of Attendance: $21,375

Estimated Direct Expenses: $7,539

• Tuition and Student Activity Fee: $6,989
• Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment: $550

Estimated Indirect Expenses: $14,584

• Off-Campus Housing and Food: $10,340
• Personal and Transportation: $4,185
• Loan fees, if you borrow Federal loans: $59

Total Estimated Cost of Attendance: $22,123

Your cost of attending Hawkeye is made up of two types of expenses: direct and indirect.

Direct expenses are things like tuition, fees, and books from the Hawkeye Bookstore, and they show up on your Hawkeye bill.

Indirect expenses are incurred by attending college, but are not billable through Hawkeye. These may include things like transportation, food, supplies, and housing, which you pay for outside of the college.

When you get financial aid, it first covers your direct costs and is applied to your Hawkeye bill. If there's any leftover aid, it will be sent to you (or your parent if it's a parent PLUS loan) to help cover those indirect expenses.

We use the Estimated Cost of Attendance to determine your financial need. This sets the limit on the total financial aid you may receive. The costs included in this estimate are set by law and outlined below.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are calculated using the resident cost per credit hour at an estimated 29 credit hours for the fall and spring semester, and 7 credit hours for the summer. If your enrollment falls below 12 credits, this estimate is adjusted.

Find your program to review course costs.

Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment

Estimates are based on state averages. If the your enrollment falls below 12 credits, this estimate is adjusted.

Visit the Hawkeye Bookstore for books and materials costs.

Transportation

Estimates are based on state averages and economic factors. Initial estimates are calculated with 16 weeks of enrollment each fall and spring semester and 8 weeks in the summer.

Your transportation estimate is adjusted to the actual number of weeks you are enrolled for the semester on the financial aid lock date.

Personal Expenses

Estimates are based on state averages.

Initial estimates are calculated with 16 weeks of enrollment each fall and spring semester and 8 weeks in the summer.

Your personal expenses estimate is adjusted to the actual number of weeks you are enrolled for the semester on the financial aid lock date.

You may not include personal expenses in your cost of attending if you enroll for five or fewer credits.

Housing and Food — Living Expenses

Formerly known as room and board, housing and food estimates are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Initial estimates are calculated with 16 weeks of enrollment each fall and spring semester and 8 weeks in the summer.

When you file your FAFSA, you indicate your planned living arrangement. You will have greater living expenses if you live off-campus instead of with a parent. Hawkeye does not have college-owned housing.

Your living expenses estimate is adjusted to the actual number of weeks you are enrolled for the semester on the financial aid lock date.

You may not include housing and food expenses in the cost of attending if you enroll in five or fewer credits.

Loan Fees 

Loan fees are based on the average cost of borrowing student loans or parent PLUS loans. The average is calculated using Hawkeye student borrowing data from two years prior.

Here's how upcoming changes to federal student loans may affect you:

• Part-time enrollment matters. If you're enrolled less than full time, your annual loan amount will be prorated based on your enrollment level.
• There's a lifetime borrowing limit. You can borrow up to $257,500 total in federal student loans over your lifetime, with a cap of $57,500 for undergraduate study. (This does not include Parent PLUS loans your parent may take out for you.)
• Repayment options are changing. New repayment plans are being introduced, including a new standard plan and a new income-based Repayment Assistance Plan. Some current repayment plans will go away starting July 1, 2028. You can find the latest details at studentaid.gov.

What You Can Do Now

• Plan your budget early. Because loan limits may be lower—especially if you're enrolled part time—it's a good idea to look at all your options. This might include scholarships, federal work-study, private loans, or other funding sources.
• Check your loan history. Log in to studentaid.gov to see how much you've borrowed, your lifetime totals, and details about the financial aid you've received. You can also find contact information for your loan servicer there.

Here are some changes to the Pell Grant that could affect your eligibility:

• Your total grant aid matters. If the combined amount of your other grants and scholarships (state, college, or private) goes over your cost of attendance, you may no longer qualify for a Pell Grant.
• Your Student Aid Index (SAI) counts. You'll be ineligible for a Pell Grant if your SAI is equal to or higher than twice the maximum Pell Grant amount.
• Foreign income is now included. Income earned outside the U.S. will be counted when calculating your adjusted gross income.
• Some income and assets are excluded. Income and assets related to fishing vessels and permits will not be counted in financial aid calculations.

Here's what these new rules mean for you as a student:

• Federal aid will focus on outcomes. Programs must show that graduates earn competitive wages. If a program doesn't meet the earnings standard, it could lose access to federal financial aid.
• How earnings are measured. A program may lose eligibility if graduates' median earnings (four years after completion) are lower than the median earnings of 25–34 year olds who graduated from similar programs at the state or national level.
• You'll be notified. If a program you're interested in is at risk of losing federal aid, the college is required to let you know.
• One clear standard. A single "low-earning outcome" measure replaces older, more complicated debt-to-earnings tests.
• Certificate programs are exempt. Undergraduate certificate programs are not included in this rule.
• Appeals are possible. Colleges will be able to appeal results or regain eligibility after two years if outcomes improve.

These changes are designed to help ensure your time, effort, and financial aid are going toward programs that support strong career and earning potential.

• The NASFAA One Big Beautiful Bill Act Web Center is a helpful resource to learn more about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act may affect your financial aid. It brings together clear explanations, updates, and tools to help you understand upcoming changes and what they could mean for you as a student.