Reducing Tuition at Iowa State UniversityThe Background on Tuition Costs at the University of Iowa State Iowa State University is a land-grant school, which, among other things, means the university receives money from the State of Iowa from taxes that residents pay to the state. Because of this, in-state residents who choose to go to college do not have to pay a large amount of money, while out-of-state residents have to pay almost twice as much . Iowa State University does not have reciprocity, meaning that even residents of neighboring states, Minnesota, Illinois, etc., must pay full tuition to the university. outside the state. Out-of-state residents must pay about $9,000 per year for tuition, while Iowa residents only pay about $2,500 per year. (See fig 1 for semester costs) Undergraduate Cost of Attendance Fig 1. Semester Cost Resident Non-Resident Tuition $1,393 $4,673 Room/Board $2,085.50 $2,085.50 Books/Supplies $342 $342 Fees $109 $109 TOTAL $3,929.50 $7,209.50 Source: Iowa State University Home Page, www.iastate.edu/ ~fin_aid_infoTuition Helps to pay for all the services and programs of a university. However, some universities invest more in one or two programs or colleges in order to make them stronger areas of study within the university. Not all colleges or departments within a university offer the same quality of courses or facilities. For example, Iowa State University invests a lot of its money in engineering and agriculture programs and thus improves the quality of these programs. This is how students choose the university that suits them best. A student bases their decision on which college they want to attend by looking at the programs at a particular university...... middle of paper ......more information and office email addresses go on the Iowa State University web page at www.iastate.edu. From there you can reach any office or department at the University. Just keep in mind that it is the student's job to express their opinions to the university, and it is the university's job to listen. Without us, there is no Iowa State! Works Cited Hauser, Andrea. “Regents raise tuition by 4.3 percent.” Iowa State Daily October 22, 1999: 1. Iowa State University Financial Aid Office. (No date). How much does it really cost? [Online]. (1998). Available at http://www.iastate.edu/~fin_aid_info/ General Topics/cost.html [October 29, 1999]. Iowa State University Office of Institutional Research. (No date). ISU Information Book [online]. (1998-1999). Available at http://www.iastate.edu/~inst_res_info/factbk.html [1999, October 29].