Is Auburn worth paying more than Iowa State for college?

Both are established public research universities.

Auburn has notable strengths in engineering, business, agriculture, architecture, and aviation. Its SEC environment may also be a meaningful part of the college experience for you, but that is a personal-value factor rather than a guaranteed financial return.

The size and source of the price difference matters. A modest difference that your family can cover without high-interest borrowing may be reasonable if Auburn is where you would be more engaged, build stronger relationships, and plan to begin your career in the Southeast. But if attending Auburn requires sizable parent loans, private loans, or materially limits savings for graduate school, study abroad, or other goals, that premium is difficult to defend.

Based on the information here, Iowa State is the wiser financial choice. Auburn becomes worth the added cost only if its specific program, geographic network, or campus environment is important enough to change your opportunities and the additional expense will not create meaningful debt or financial strain.