Tuition increases have become a yearly concern for ISU students. Since 1993, tuition has increased $2,150 for undergraduate full-time residents and $6,458 for undergraduate full-time non-residents.

Tuition will increase an additional 22.3 percent in fall 2003 for undergraduate residents. The Board of Regents increased tuition 18.5 percent without mandatory fees for the 2002-2003 year.

In addition, mandatory student fees such as computer fees, activity fees and health fees have been added and increased in the past ten years.

Currently, full-time students are required to pay a standard computer fee of $94 per semester. This fee allows students to have access to the various computer labs on campus.

Some majors are required to pay higher computer fees due to their increased computer use and variety of programs.

The mandatory computer fee for full-time computer science and management information systems majors is $161 per semester. Full-time engineering majors must pay a $202 computer fee per semester.

A mandatory heath fee of $80 per semester is charged to each student. There is also an $8 per semester health facility fee.

These fees entitle ISU students to appointments with any of the health center doctors free of charge.

Lab work, such as blood tests, are not covered by the health fee. Students have the option of paying for such tests by cash or billing it to their U-Bill.

Students residing in campus housing and residence halls have faced room and board rate increases.

In March, the Board of Regents approved a proposal from the Department of Residence to increase rates by $720 for the coming year.

Increases in tuition have stemmed from decreased government funding and budget cuts, loss of faculty and a need to maintain a quality education.

— Amy Schierbrock