Students who did not return to Iowa State last fall said tuition increases were among the top reasons for their departure, according to a university survey.

In October 2002, Iowa State performed the first-ever survey to determine why freshmen who do not return after their first year choose to leave the university.

The survey, created by the Iowa Board of Regents, received a 38.3 percent response from students who did not return last fall.

Respondents said the top three reasons for not returning as a sophomore were increases in tuition and fees, transfers to a lower-cost institution and not achieving a feeling of belonging.

Mark Longley, graduate assistant at the Dean of Students office, said there were various reasons for students leaving the university. He said many students face financial difficulties and college is a difficult transition many students are not ready for.

Although the university wants all students to continue their education, it is not realistic to keep all students at the college since some leave for personal problems such as homesickness, Longley said.

Thomas Hill, vice president of student affairs, said the university is doing a good job of retaining students. Hill said the increases are used to offset the reduction of state support. It is “rational” to increase tuition with the decrease in state support, he said.

Tuition increases are controlled by the Board of Regents, but they do not make up for cuts in state funding, said Barbara Boose, communications specialist for the board. They help remedy cuts, but don’t make up for them, she said.

A main problem resulting from tuition increases includes some students inability to enroll because of the cost of Iowa State, Longley said. Other students may be forced to take out loans or have other hardships, he said.

“[The tuition increase is] not a good thing because some students may be priced out of enrolling,” Longley said.

Hill said if the tuition is not increased, the quality of services at the university would be reduced. Also, classes would be larger and less classes would be offered.

Laura Soldevilla, 18, decided to leave Iowa State after her freshman year. Soldevilla, who currently lives in Chicago, said she left because of tuition and grades.

Soldevilla said the out-of state tuition was getting too expensive for her to pay when she wasn’t getting good grades.

“It costs $25,000 [with tuition and room and board] for out-of-state people to go to Iowa State,” Soldevilla said.

Erin Swenson, sophomore in dietetics, said she has no problems with the tuition increase at Iowa State.

“I figure I am going to spend a lot of money on college anyway, so it hasn’t affected me that much,” Swenson said.

Boose said increases are necessary to preserve the quality of the universities under the Regent’s jurisdiction.

“The Board of Regents is committed to maintaining the quality of these institutions,” Boose said. “We are trying to balance this with the commitment to keep education accessible to all students.”

Boose said the board is aware of the impact that the tuition increases have on students and families, and is trying to make adjustments.

The universities used the survey as a tool in their many efforts to respond to the students’ needs, she said.

“The board directed the universities to commit an increased amount of tuition revenues to student financial aid, with a focus on need-based aid,” she said.

Boose said the Board of Regents has recently worked with university leaders, such as ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, to find ways to combat state budget cuts that contribute to the increases in tuition.

“[We] have worked over the past year to inform legislators and other elected officials of the importance of the universities and the need to keep public higher education indeed ‘public’,” Boose said.

Longley agreed with Boose.

“[The] Legislature needs to come up with a plan,” Longley said, “a long term plan to offset the annual problems.”