Proposed 2026-27 Tuition and Fee Rates

At its February meeting, the Iowa Board of Regents will hear a first reading of Tuition and Mandatory Fees for the 2026-27 academic year. The proposals increase resident undergraduate tuition by 3.0% at all three universities. The universities also propose varying tuition rates for non-resident, graduate and professional students as well as differential rates for certain higher cost programs. 

The proposed tuition increases equate to $287 for the University of Iowa, $286 for Iowa State University, and $262 for the University of Northern Iowa. The proposed rates are below the three-year average of the Higher Education Price Index which stood at 3.67% as of December 2025. 

As in previous years, the Board will set tuition rates over the course of two public meetings. No action will be taken at the February meeting. Final action on tuition and fees is scheduled for April. This deliberate process, required by Iowa Code, allows students and families to plan for the future, and provides ample opportunity for public discussion.

The Board considers state support, cost absorption through efficiencies and reallocation and expected inflationary impacts to higher education budgets when setting tuition rates. The universities need adequate support from all sources to maintain and strengthen their campuses and meet institutional missions. Tuition helps the Regent institutions maintain adequate financial support and deliver quality education Iowans expect.