ESA and tax credit calculator for Des Moines families
Enter tuition and fees, the number of children and when they start. See the 2026-27 ESA total, what is left to pay or left in the account, and the Iowa tuition and textbook credit on the part you pay.
Estimates only. The ESA amounts are the Iowa Department of Education's 2026-27 figures. The credit uses the 2025 tax-year rule (25% of up to $2,000 per dependent, costs paid with ESA money excluded) and assumes your out-of-pocket costs qualify. STO grants and school aid can lower the family's share further.
How much will a Des Moines family owe after the Iowa ESA?
Tuition and fees minus the $8,148 full-year ESA (or $4,074 for a half-year start). If tuition is lower than the award, the difference stays in the account; if it is higher, the family pays the gap and can claim 25 percent of up to $2,000 of it per child as the Iowa tuition and textbook credit.
| Case | Tuition | Family pays | Left in ESA | Credit on family share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parish K-8 school, tuition at the ESA amount (illustrative) | $8,148 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Christian K-8 school, illustrative $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | $1,148 | $0 |
| High school, illustrative $12,000 | $12,000 | $3,852 | $0 | $500 |
See what your family can use this year
Two minutes, five questions. A School Funding Advisor calls back with your ESA, grant and credit options and the dates that apply.