School Choice in Iowa
Iowa runs 3 private school choice programs, together serving about 169,119 students. Its strongest program reaches EdChoice's universal eligibility tier.
Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit
Individual Tax Credit/Deduction- Students
- 110,891
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- $226
- Launched
- 1987
The average award is 1% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Students First Education Savings Account Program
Education Savings Account- Students
- 41,044
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- $7,988
- Launched
- 2023
The average award is 58% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
School Tuition Organization Tax Credit
Tax-Credit Scholarship- Students
- 17,184
- Eligible
- 66%
- Average award
- $1,450
- Launched
- 2006
The average award is 10% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Homeschooling in Iowa
Homeschooling is legal in every state. Iowa recognises five legal routes to it, compulsory attendance runs from age 6–16, and notice to the state is required under some options. The Iowa homeschool requirements are set out in full on their own page.
How Iowa compares
Nationally, 36 jurisdictions run 82 private-choice programs serving roughly 2,279,109 students, and 18 have at least one program any student may apply to. The state-by-state guide sets out how the programs differ.
Where this comes from
Program data from EdChoice's School Choice in America dashboard, retrieved 2026-09-16; homeschool requirements from HSLDA. Participation and award figures are the most recent EdChoice publishes and lag the current school year. Educational information, not legal or financial advice — confirm eligibility with the program before you rely on it.
More on Iowa: its freedom score and rank