Coe College will once again keep costs close to Iowa's public universities for certain incoming Iowa students next fall through the Iowa Ready initiative. (Photo by Catherine Lane/Getty Images)
With the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycle scheduled for another late release this year, Coe College in Cedar Rapids has announced it will continue its efforts to keep costs for certain Iowa students level with the state’s public universities.
Coe College will cap out-of-pocket costs at $24,000 for incoming, in-state students who meet requirements, according to a news release. That is within 10% of the average cost of tuition, fees, housing and food for students attending a state university this fall. Students will see their costs reduced by additional scholarships and grants through the university’s Iowa Ready initiative.
The U.S. Department of Education announced in early August it will take a staggered approach to releasing the 2025-26 FAFSA. The department plans to open it to hundreds of students Oct. 1 and gradually release it for larger groups until Dec. 1, when it will be available for everyone. The department will partner with community organizations, high schools and universities throughout different stages of the testing process to identify any issues and rectify them before the form’s full release.
“Due to the 14% drop in Iowa FAFSA filers last year, we were hoping for a smooth FAFSA rollout this fall,” said Coe College President David Hayes in the release. “With news confirming the form won’t be fully operational in a timely manner, we have decided to continue our support of Iowa’s students and families to assure they have the necessary information to support their college search.”
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The college first implemented the Iowa Ready initiative in the spring as families and institutions experienced delays and glitches with the new FAFSA rollout, offering a state university price match of $21,060 through June 1. At the time of the announcement, FAFSA filing rates in Iowa were under the previous year’s by more than 30%.
In order to qualify for the program , students must be current Iowa residents enrolling in college for the first time in fall 2025, have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average, file the FAFSA, visit campus by March 1, 2025 and confirm enrollment by May 1, 2025. They must enroll for classes as a full-time student and keep their resident status and meal plan the entire school year, as well as the following years.
According to the release, the Iowa Ready initiative aims to provide families with economic certainty when looking at Coe College during their college search, as well as make the university more accessible and affordable for Iowa students.
“We stand firm in our belief that an Iowa high school student should have every opportunity to pursue their higher education right here within their home state and Coe offers a wonderful opportunity to do just that,” Hayes said in the release. “We will continue to support our high school students….we remain Iowa Ready.”
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