Frequently Asked Questions

All DMACC Connect students will live together on one floor in either Wallace or Wilson Hall (also known as Towers). Wallace/Wilson offers a traditional community living experience (double-occupancy rooms, community bathrooms, and common living space) and is a location where many incoming first-year Iowa State students will also be residing. The floor itself will be a mix of both Iowa State and DMACC students.

No. DMACC Connect students will live with another DMACC Connect student and cannot request to live with a current Iowa State student. DMACC Connect students will be assigned their room by Iowa State’s Department of Residence. If two DMACC Connect students wish to live together, please contact Kat Klingseis.

Housing for DMACC-ISU Connect students is not guaranteed and is subject to change.

The 2026-27 rate for Wallace/Wilson is $2,556/semester per person for a double-occupancy room (one of the lowest rates for ISU housing). This is just the cost of housing and does not include the cost of food if choosing a meal plan.

Students living in Wallace/Wilson are not required to have a specific Iowa State meal plan and have maximum flexibility if selecting a meal plan. Various dining plan options are available.

Each floor in Wallace and Wilson has its own kitchenette with a refrigerator, oven, sink, and counter space for students to utilize. A student’s meal plan can be used at any Iowa State Dining location.

South Side Eats, located in the Wallace-Wilson Commons, serves dinner five days per week (Sunday-Thursday) and offers two meal options: A hot meal featuring a main entrée or a convenient, chilled, grab-and-go meal. Breakfast options are also available.

Connect students are encouraged to consider their DMACC class schedule, general eating habits, and budget before selecting an Iowa State meal plan. If not eating at South Side Eats, DMACC Connect students would be walking or taking CyRide to use their meal plan at various on-campus dining locations. 

Student financial aid is available via one (and only one) college or university. Iowa State cannot provide financial aid to DMACC Connect students. DMACC students would work with DMACC's Financial Aid Office to secure additional loans if eligible (ex: private loans or federal Parent PLUS loans, both are credit-based options) or would need to pay Iowa State directly for Iowa State charges. Iowa State offers a variety of payment options.

DMACC Connect students living in Iowa State housing will have two bills, one with DMACC for their DMACC charges (tuition, fees, books, etc.), and one with Iowa State for any Iowa State charges (housing, meals, parking, ISU Student Activity fee, etc.). 

An optional and additional cost of Connect is to pay the Iowa State Student Activity and Service Fee. 2025-26 rate is $211.25/semester, 2026-27 rate will be confirmed by the Iowa Board of Regents mid-June.

Benefits of the ISU Student Activity Fee include:

• Opportunity to enter Iowa State Athletics’ student ticket lottery to potentially purchase season tickets (All-Sports Package or Football Only). The ticket lottery process will happen in July or August 2026 for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
• Use of all Iowa State workout facilities (Lied Rec and State Gym)
• Participation in ISU intramurals and other sports clubs
• All services as listed through Iowa State’s Recreation Services website, including (not limited to): equipment rental, gaming and esports, trips and workshops, fitness classes, etc.
• Membership in ISU clubs and organizations (when eligible, some groups may require Iowa State enrollment to participate, and are not options for DMACC Connect students to join). 

The DMACC campuses closest to Ames are the Boone campus (a 20-minute drive) and the Ankeny/main DMACC campus (35-minute drive). DMACC students also have the option to take online courses. Limited courses are offered at the Ames Hunziker Center.

A car will be required for DMACC Connect students living in Iowa State housing since DMACC students would be traveling to attend their DMACC classes. Ample parking is available in the lots closest to Wallace and Wilson Hall. Parking permit cost for students living in Wallace or Wilson is $176/academic year (2025-26 rate, both fall and spring semesters included).

1. Apply for admission at DMACC, complete DMACC orientation, and get registered for DMACC classes at the earliest opportunity. You will work with DMACC directly to complete these steps. Fall 2026 DMACC class registration for new students will start mid-April 2026.
2. Apply for the DMACC-ISU Connect program in March or April 2026. Current high school students will only be admitted into Connect once they are registered in fall DMACC courses and all previous college transcripts have been received. Within the application, you will include your Fall 2026 DMACC schedule and will be asked to provide college transcripts if you have attended any other college or university (including college credit taken while in high school).
3. Set up your Iowa State email and access to Iowa State systems. After being admitted to DMACC-ISU Connect, instructions will be provided for how to complete this step.
4. Submit an Iowa State housing contract by July 1, 2026 (deadline for fall-entering students). There are a limited number of spaces available for DMACC Connect students to live in Wallace or Wilson Hall. July 1 is the deadline, but space will be prioritized in submission order, meaning those who submit their housing contract earlier will have higher priority. After July 1, spaces held for DMACC Connect students will be unavailable. Students will log into Iowa State’s Housing Portal (via the “Student Log In” link) using their ISU email and ISU password to submit an Iowa State housing contract.