IOWA CITY — Despite graduate student calls for a tuition freeze and elimination of fees — alongside undergraduate testimony about mounting financial pressure on Iowa’s public university students — Iowa’s Board of Regents on Thursday unanimously approved across-the-board rate hikes for the upcoming academic year.

A 3 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduates at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa — and a 2 percent bump for all University of Northern Iowa students — increases the cost of tuition for in-state undergrads to $9,286 at the UI; $9,252 at Iowa State; and $8,564 at UNI for the 2024-25 year.

Out-of-state undergrads will pay triple or nearly that of in-state students, with UI’s non-resident tuition becoming $31,374 for the next school year.

The rates regents approved include mandatory fee hikes, bringing the total cost of attendance for one year — including tuition, fees, room, board, and other ancillary costs — to $28,617 for a UI resident undergraduate student.

Inflationary pressure

Representatives from all three campuses told the regents about the impact of higher costs — citing, among other things, the same inflationary trends affecting the universities’ ability to do business and pursue campus upgrades.

“The cost of building maintenance, machines and other equipment that funds my research, the cost of living expenses for our faculty and staff … are all rising, and that puts pressure on the general regent university budget,” ISU Graduate and Professional Student Senate President Wren Bouwman said. “However, looking to students who are also struggling under the weight of inflation cannot continue to be the solution.”

Where 21 percent of the universities’ general education funding came from tuition in 1981, 64 percent does today.

Meanwhile, the portion of state appropriations has plummeted from 77 percent in the early ’80s to 30 percent today.

How to counter?

With enrollment declines predicted nationally, Bouwman warned of another way to consider the implications on tuition revenue — and how to counter them that doesn’t involve simply raising rates.

“It’s important to consider what makes us competitive,” she said. “Iowa State University is the first land grant institution. We invented the computer and the Rice Krispie treat. Our professors are on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. But none of that matters if our students can’t afford to study here.

“And then those innovations end with us.”

With the universities placing more emphasis on first-generation students and retaining them through graduation, the students who spoke to the board Thursday said lower tuition could give Iowa’s universities a competitive edge.

It also could benefit the state in attracting and keeping more residents who want to live and spend in Iowa.

“This tuition increase accounts for money that would be otherwise be going directly back into the Iowa economy while they’re students,” Bouwman said. “This is money for rent and utilities, shopping, child care, groceries and other social activities.”

UNI Student Government President Lizbeth Montalvo said she is a first-generation student and native Iowan who long has aspired to stay in Iowa.

“It has always been my dream to stay and give back to the community that has given so much to me,” Montalvo said. “But I’m afraid that if the increase in tuition is what continues, this is something that I, along with my peers, may not be able to do. Potentially, I will have to move to a different state to be able to relieve myself of debt at a faster rate.

“This could further negatively impact the state’s employment shortages.”

Every student who spoke urged the Iowa Legislature to do more for high education, they also urged regents to ease the financial pressure on students.

The Iowa Legislature last year denied any general appropriations increase to the universities and this year increased general appropriations by $12.3 million, less than was requested.

“The ISU (Graduate and Professional Student Senate) asks that you consider a tuition freeze, as difficult of a decision as it might be,” Bauwman said. “In the future, we need to look to the Iowa state government to raise appropriations.”

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com