The board that governs the three state universities has reviewed a report that was mandated by the Iowa Legislature to study the merits of a tuition guarantee program. Board of Regents business officer Brad Berg says the study committee researched several institutions of varying sizes and types around the country.
Speaking at last week’s Board meeting, Berg says some schools have a program where students can pay a premium rate that remains fixed or choose a lower initial per credit rate that is subject to annual increases. He says they reviewed that possibility for the University of Iowa and says the upfront premium would have to be 18-hundred-60 dollars. Berg says the current Regent policy of tying tuition increases to inflation addresses on of the main concerns.
He says another issue in implementing a tuition guarantee program is that the three state schools each operate unique student information systems and billing platforms that would require reworking.
Berg says there are a lot of variables that would have to be considered to make a program work.
Berg points out that Iowa’s state universities continue to outperform national averages in retention and graduation rates, which are now the highest on record, enrollments are currently strong, and tuition rates continue to be very competitive. The Board received the report and will send it to the Iowa Legislature.
