The housing costs can vary depending on whether you choose one of the really nice suite-style dorms or a double or triple room in a traditional dorm. The COA uses the suite-style dorm cost; you can pay less by choosing a traditional dorm. The All-Access meal plan, which is pricy, is required of freshmen, but if you join a fraternity and have a meal plan with the fraternity, you can downgrade to the less expensive Greek meal plan to supplement what you get at the house. Dining Dollars, which are mandatory and included in the COA, can be refunded to you if not used at the end of the year. My daughter never used her Dining Dollars.
After freshman year, you don’t need to have a meal plan. Housing costs will vary depending on what you choose. There are very pricy options, and there are some that are way less than the cost of the suite-style dorms. My daughter never spent anywhere close to the book cost listed as part of the COA; she bought used books, found pdf’s online, rented books, etc. to keep costs down. I have no idea what flight costs are from Minnesota; we’re from the Chicago area and flight costs have been pretty reasonable. Even if you’re frugal, though, you’re not going to get the cost down to $2,000 or anything close to that. I think we paid about $15K after the Presidential, although my daughter chose to live alone in a newer, furnished apartment complex within walking distance of campus, which definitely was at the upper end of cost.
I don’t know anything about Iowa’s MIS program, but Alabama’s MIS program is outstanding.