Iowa Regents consider proposed 3% tuition hikes for universities

Iowa's three public universities are proposing tuition increases for the 2025-2026 academic year, with the Iowa Board of Regents set to vote on the proposals in June. The University of Iowa and Iowa State University are seeking a 3% increase for in-state undergraduate and graduate students, while the University of Northern Iowa proposes a 2.7% increase for in-state undergraduates and a 3% increase for resident graduate students. Out-of-state students would also see tuition hikes, with ISU requesting a 4.5% increase and UNI 3% for nonresidents, while UI proposes a lower 0.9% increase for nonresident undergraduates. The proposed hikes aim to address rising financial pressures, including inflation, faculty recruitment and retention, facility maintenance, and student financial aid. These increases follow similar tuition hikes implemented the previous year. The universities maintain that, even with the increases, their tuition rates remain competitive compared to peer institutions.