Iowa Board of Regents OK tuition hike for 2024-2025 year

Following a decision by the Iowa Board of Regents, students entering the University of Iowa this fall will see their tuition increase by 3% for a total of $11,650, a decision the board said was necessary “to meet institutional missions and to maintain the quality of education Iowans expect.” “The financial burden of tuition is a significant challenge,” Brenda Ramirez, a political science and economics major and vice president of the undergraduate student government at UI said, particularly for first generation students. Ms. Ramirez was one of four student representatives from Iowa’s three regent universities who were invited to speak at the board’s June 13 meeting regarding changes to tuition and mandatory fees.

“Budget decisions to help things move forward this year will impact enrollment next year, they will impact student decisions,” Wren Bouwman, doctoral candidate in applied linguistics and technology and president of the Iowa State University (ISU) Graduate Professional Student Senate (GPSS), said. “If we don’t stop asking students to shoulder these costs, we’ll just be continuing to kick our economic difficulties down the road at the expense of the students we serve.” The ISU GPSS suggested the regents freeze tuition for the time being, and focus their efforts on advocating the Iowa State government to raise appropriations. The last time the board froze tuition was in June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI’s yearly in-state tuition was suspended at $8,073 until the following year, when tuition was raised 3.5% for the 2021-2022 cohort. While the board determines tuition increases well in advance of the actual expenditure of funds, the regents’ tuition report stated, the board also considers inflation’s impact in evaluating tuition and fee rates. According to an April 10 U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report, core inflation exceeded 5.5% in 2021 and 2022 before slowing to 3.9% in 2023. The annual core inflation rate for the 12 months ending in March 2024 was 3.8%. “Inflation impacts higher education in the same manner it affects other segments of the economy,” the regents’ report stated.

Mandatory fees, individual program fees increase

Iowa residents aren’t the only ones getting hit with the tuition hike – out-of-state students will feel the pinch as well. UI tuition for nonresidents will be $31,374, up $395 from last year, or a 1.3% increase. Nonresidents pay approximately $19,000 more than their resident counterparts. Mandatory fees at the state universities are increasing as well – by $49 for UI. The percentage increase is broken down per category:

• Technology – up 4%. Covers the cost of inflationary increases in IT expenditures that support students.
• Health – up $4. Covers medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and personnel.
• Mental health – up $7. Cost will tackle staff shortages and increase clinical hours dedicated to student clients.
• Student activities – up $4. Will provide more support for the student-run radio station KRUI, the University Lecture Committee, and additional late-night safety measures.
• Recreation – up $10. Cost will help offset the recreational facilities’ increased operational and programming expenditures.

Mandatory fees do not cover the cost of common and university/program specific fees, which are charges assigned only to students that services specific to their programs, interests, or needs, the report stated. At Thursday’s meeting, the state universities also requested rate increases for some of their higher cost programs. According to the regents’ report, “Assessing tuition in this manner aligns costs where they are incurred, rather than spreading them over the entire student population.”

Tuition increases were approved for the following:

• College of Law: a 3.5% increase for nonresident students.
• College of Pharmacy: a 0.75% increase for resident and nonresident students in the PharmD program.
• Radiation Sciences Program, Carver College of Medicine: a $1,617 increase for on-campus resident and nonresident undergraduate students.
• Master of Clinical Nutrition, Carver College of Medicine: a 3% increase for resident students.
• Physician Assistant Program, Carver College of Medicine: a 2.5% increase for resident and nonresident students.

The Carver College of Medicine’s radiation sciences program request amount is part of a three-year plan to phase in tuition increases, aiming to ultimately achieve a balanced budget and fully fund the program. The program, called “essential” to UI and UI Health Care’s mission, “provides healthcare personnel in the areas of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy,” noting that “there are critical shortages of these healthcare personnel.” Additionally, the report stated that the tuition price to other academic peers is “comparable.” The regents compared the University of Iowa’s in-state tuition to that of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State, Arizona, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Utah and North Carolina.

Factoring together tuition and mandatory fees, the peer states averaged a little over $13,500 per year, with UI averaging $10,964. The highest tuition belonged to the state of Illinois at $17,572 per year, while the lowest belonged to North Carolina at $8,990 per year.

Board petitions state of Iowa

During the meeting, student representatives acknowledged the regents’ willingness to petition state assistance. Lizbeth Montalvo, a political science and Spanish major and president of University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) student undergraduate government, acknowledged the issue surrounding tuition hikes as “complex” and “needs collaboration between the board, the legislature, and students.” “I recognize this decision does not come easy and is vital to maintaining the quality of education our three universities proudly serve,” she said, encouraging the board to pursue additional scholarship opportunities for students. At its Sept. 2023 meeting, the board requested a $14.8 million increase in general university appropriations for 2025, which the General Assembly approved. Gov. Reynolds signed an increase of $12.3 million – a 2.5% increase for 2025, when compared to that year. “I know that the last thing the university leadership wants to do, and the regents wants to do, is raise tuition,” regent Jim Lindenmayer said to the student representatives. “That flip in the trajectory of reliance is a reflection of the appropriations and priorities that go on at the state level. And I think the only thing that affects priorities are voices. So don’t stop telling your story.” The board unanimously passed the proposed tuition and mandatory fee increase.