Iowa public universities each seek $2M increases in state general education funds

Each of Iowa’s public universities are increasing their funding requests to the state for the first time in years as the institutions work to keep rising costs off students’ backs.

The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have each requested incremental general education funding of $2 million in state appropriations for fiscal year 2028, according to documents published by the Iowa Board of Regents.

The total general education request from the university comes out to $561.25 million, representing a 1.08% increase from fiscal year 2027. Additional requests from the UI and ISU for specific initiatives bring the funding request’s total increase to $10 million, or a 1.6% increase from last fiscal year. However, the appropriation request for tuition replacement has decreased from $25 million to $21 million, eliminating $4 million from the appropriations ask.

“The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa are tremendous assets for the State of Iowa,” the board document stated. “The public universities serve the state in a variety of ways, and each one draws on individual strengths for the betterment of Iowans, but they can do more.”

Appropriations requests will be discussed and potentially approved by the board of regents at its Sept. 16-17 meeting. The board will also hear updates on its Resource Enhancement and Productivity Study and appropriations requests for university capital projects.

Neither the UI or ISU have requested increases to general education appropriations since 2023, and the last time UNI requested additional money in 2024, lawmakers did not approve it.

“Like every Iowa household and business,” the board document stated, Iowa’s public universities are paying more for utilities, contracts, insurance and other necessities, and increased funding from the state would go directly to offsetting these costs.

The UI’s general education funding request is “intentionally limited in scope” and won’t go toward any new programs or initiatives, with the document stating the university’s fund reallocation and new fund-seeking efforts will handle those areas. State funding will instead go entirely to inflation-risen costs, helping the UI to keep students and families from seeing those increases instead.

One of Iowa’s state universities sees enrollment increase in fall semester

“That affordability protects a workforce Iowa cannot easily replace,” the board document stated.  “Each year the university graduates the nurses, teachers, physicians, pharmacists, engineers and business owners who stay and build careers in Iowa communities. Keeping their education affordable keeps that pipeline open.”

Beyond general education dollars, the UI’s $2 million special purpose unit request from the state is for a “rural physician pipeline” program that would expand partnerships with rural medical providers and grow enrollment of the university’s rural medicine track from 20 to 28 over four years. The university is requesting this be a recurring investment from the state.

UNI stated in the document it is dealing with utilities, health and property insurance and employee wages increasing. While these costs are partially offset by “renewed emphasis on efficiency and internal reprioritizations,” the document stated increased state funding would also help in this endeavor.

ISU has also worked to absorb rising costs of energy, utilities and contracted services through “responsible stewardship,” the release stated, but is requesting the additional $2 million for its general operations to stop the need to place the burden of higher expenses on students.

The Ames university is requesting another $2 million from the state for its AI-Ready Workforce and Innovation Initiative to expand “ethical AI education” across the university’s academic programs. Other priorities for the initiative include integrating artificial intelligence into its areas of advanced manufacturing, agriculture technology and research and biomanufacturing.

According to the request, this initiative and the state funding for it would help create economic strength and opportunities for new products and innovation.

“This investment will also position Iowa State and its partners to compete successfully for major federal investments that drive economic growth across Iowa and the nation,” the document stated.