HCI Graduate Student Tuition and Funding Opportunities

Tuition for 2025-2026 Academic Year

Tuition and fees for HCI on-campus students are based on your full-time Iowa State graduate student residency. Visit the ISU Registrar's Office website for additional information.

International Graduate Student Estimated Expenses: found here

Iowa Resident	Total cost per semester: $8,457.45	Tuition: $844 per credit hour or $7,576 for 9 or more credits; Total fees: $881.45
Non-Resident	Total cost per semester: $17,791.45	Tuition: $1,882 per credit hour or $16,910 for 9 or more credits; Total fees: $881.45
International	Total cost per semester: $18,782.45	Tuition: $1,989 per credit hour or $17,901 for 9 or more credits; Total fees: $881.45

Research and Teaching Assistantships

Research Assistantships

When a graduate student is hired on an assistantship, their tuition is assessed at the resident tuition rate. Any enrolled student will be charged tuition and fees. Students on assistantship are responsible for paying their fees and any remaining tuition not covered by the assistantship.

All students admitted to the Ph.D. program receive a half-time graduate assistantship. The assistantship appointment requires you to work as a research assistant for 20 hours per week.

HCI PhD and MS Thesis applicants will all be considered for graduate research assistantship funding. We use the admission application for assistantships, so a separate application is not required for assistantships.

The majority of our graduate students are supported through research assistantships provided by their major professor/faculty advisor.
A research assistantship is provided to students by a faculty member (major professor) from his or her research grant or contract. Students on research assistantships are expected to perform research and other related activities as directed by their major professor toward the fulfillment of the grant requirements.
All assistantships are contingent on satisfactory performance of assigned duties, progression towards a degree, and the availability of funds.
MS Thesis applicants will be considered for:
- 1/2 time appointment; 20 hours a week graduate research assistantship with a minimum semester stipend of $10,749
- a 75% tuition scholarship, and a graduate assistant tuition rate for the remaining tuition (in-state tuition rate; see tuition costs above)
- Students on an assistantship will also receive a fee award (your fees will be reduced).
- GAs on an assistantship appointment for at least three months during a semester receive single-student health insurance coverage, which includes a prescription drug plan at no charge.
PhD applicants will be considered for:
- 1/2 time appointment; 20 hours a week graduate research assistantship with a minimum semester stipend of $10,749
- a 100% tuition scholarship.
- Students on an assistantship will also receive a fee award (your fees will be reduced).
- GAs on an assistantship appointment for at least three months during a semester receive single-student health insurance coverage, which includes a prescription drug plan at no charge.
To learn more about the benefits of assistantships, please visit the Graduate College website.

Teaching Assistantships

The HCI Graduate Program can sometimes offer teaching assistantships, but these are not consistent from year to year due to HCI being a program and not a department. When they are available, it will be communicated.
An email will be sent to current on-campus HCI students if they can apply for an open teaching assistantship. TAs are selected with the course instructor, DOGE, and VRAC director.
Teaching assistantships are not offered to newly admitted students.

Scholarships

If a student receives a graduate research assistantship, they will receive a tuition scholarship.
Scholarships for International Students
Outside Scholarship Database

On-Campus/Off-Campus Work

Once enrolled at Iowa State, you are eligible to apply for hourly positions through the Student Employment Center. These jobs are open to all ISU students who meet the requirements shown on the job vacancy listings, which are posted on the Online Job Board. By checking with your program and professors, you may find an opening in your field that is not listed with the general vacancies. This possibility applies particularly to research areas, computer services, and other jobs that require specialized education, training, or work experience. All hourly employment of graduate students requires prior approval of the Graduate College.

The Online Job Board also lists off-campus positions from employers in Ames and surrounding communities. Employers in Ames and surrounding communities advertise for such jobs as light yard work, housework, food service, cashier and sales clerk positions, bookkeeping, child care, and farm help.