State universities propose tuition increases to Iowa Board of Regents

Iowa’s public universities are proposing smaller tuition increases than in past years for this fall as they balance savings from a slight increase in state allocations and other efforts with impacts from inflation, recruiting and retaining talent and providing more opportunities for students.

Proposed tuition rates for state universities would have undergraduate resident students paying 3% more at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University and 2% more at the University of Northern Iowa, according to Iowa Board of Regent documents.

Tuition increases for nonresident undergraduate students varies between the universities, with the UI presenting the smallest increase of 1.3%. UNI would raise its nonresident tuition by 2% and ISU’s nonresident tuition would increase by 4.5%.

The rising prices would bring UI tuition to $9,286 for residents and $31,374 for nonresidents, ISU tuition to $9,252 for residents and $27,346 for nonresidents and UNI tuition to $8,564 for residents and $20,340 for nonresidents.

The board will discuss the tuition rates at its meeting Friday, with final action slated for June.

“Funding from the proposed tuition increases will help address growing financial challenges including inflationary cost increases, recruiting and retaining faculty and staff in national markets, meeting collective bargaining terms, deferred maintenance needs in academic facilities, and student financial aid to provide higher education opportunities to more students,” the document stated.

These increases are smaller than the tuition hikes approved over the past two years, with prices for in-state undergrads at all three universities going up by 3.25% in 2023 and 4.25% in 2022. According to the board of regents document, the universities considered the 2.5% increase in state funding they will receive in fiscal year 2025, pending Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature, as well as potential operating cost savings through “efficiencies and reallocations” and impacts of inflation on budgets when developing their proposed tuition increases.

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report cited in the board of regents document, the core inflation rate in the 12-month period ending in March was 3.8%.

Mandatory fees for students will also increase at each of the universities, by 1.3% to $1,534 at ISU, by 2.5% to $1,997 at the UI and by 3% to $1,372 at UNI.

Potential increases for graduate student tuition vary across the colleges, with UNI and ISU raising rates for both resident and nonresident students by 2% and 4.5%, respectively, and the UI upping tuition for in-state students by 3.5% and nonresident students by 1.3%.

Graduate students would also see mandatory fee increases — a 1.4% raise to $1,474 at ISU, a 2.5% raise to $2,004 at the UI and a 3% raise to $1,372 at UNI.

“The proposed tuition rates at all three universities combined are projected to generate $35 million in incremental revenue for FY 2025, approximately 1.9% of the current total general education fund operating budget,” the document stated.

The universities will request special tuition rates for certain programs, according to the board of regents document, to balance budgets and provide financial support.

At the UI, the Carver College of Medicine’s Radiation Sciences Program is requesting a $1,617 tuition increase for its second year of a three-year effort to reach a balanced budget and fully fund the program. The college of medicine is also asking to keep tuition flat for Doctor of Medicine students as well as those enrolling in the Master of Science in Athletic Training and Doctor of Physical Therapy.

The UI Master of Clinical Nutrition program is requesting to keep tuition flat for nonresident students and increase tuition by 3% for resident students, and the physician’s assistant program is asking for a 2.5% increase for all students. The UI College of Nursing is also requesting no increase in tuition for its students, and the College of Pharmacy is proposing a .75% increase for both resident and nonresident students.

UNI will request to have “supplemental tuition” of $1,944 for its nursing program to handle costs of simulation and lab equipment and meet requirements for student learning and accreditation. Annual costs are expected to exceed $100,000, the document stated, with periodic additional costs of repair and replacement, and could increase over time. If approved, the tuition would match costs for students in the Wilson College of Business.

ISU is requesting that certain students within the Ivy School of Business have tuition increased — $1,340 for residents and $2,476 for nonresidents — in order to align rates for sophomore business majors with juniors and seniors. This will be the second of three years working to simplify the differential tuition rate structure, according to the document, and will align the costs for business students with those enrolled in the engineering, agricultural systems technology and industrial technology programs.

The university’s veterinary medicine program is proposing a 5% tuition increase for in-state students and 3.5% increase for out-of-state students in order to support faculty and students, maintain equipment and access new technologies. The executive MBA program, geared toward senior business leaders, is also requesting a 10% increase in tuition, as its tuition hasn’t changed since its inception in 2019 and funds are needed to cover costs of instruction, materials and travel.

ISU is also seeking to change its tuition assessment policies for graduate students in interdepartmental majors, according to the document. As the majors are offered by faculty representing a major rather than a specific department or college, tuition for them currently aligns with the faculty member’s department, and the university is requesting approval to instead align it with the student’s area of study.

“This proposal treats students pursuing the same degree equitably, regardless of the home department of their major professor, and will increase cost transparency for prospective students,” the document stated. “Additionally, the change will improve operational efficiency, align tuition rates with the cost of instruction, and support the goal of growing enrollment in interdepartmental programs.”