Full-time ISU students are charged at least $162 each semester for a technology fee, but where do the funds go, and why do some students pay more than others?

Beyond other fees and tuition on their U-Bill, Iowa State students are charged a technology fee based on credits taken in a semester and by major.

The standard technology fee is $192 for undergraduate students at full-time status. The standard fee for full-time graduate students is $162, with major-specific amounts typically seen as a larger figure. A complete listing of fees and designations by major is available on the university website.

“Different majors have varying technology fees primarily because each field of study’s technological needs and resources can differ significantly,” Kristen Constant, vice president of Information Technology Services, said.

Majors who rely heavily on technology, such as software, hardware or other laboratory equipment, see a greater need for funding, further influencing the fee amount.

According to the university website, the largest possible fee is $300, which is charged to undergraduate engineering, design, computer science, agriculture systems technology or industrial technology majors.

“The technology fees are designed to cover the costs associated with the specific technological resources and services students use,” said Mike Lohrbach, director of information technology. “This includes software licenses, hardware and other technology infrastructure essential for their coursework and projects.”

Constant explained the specific distribution of the funds to various campus accounts.

“The colleges are allocated 36%, ITS 61% and the library 3%,” Constant said. “For colleges or departments that have additional fees, all of those fees go directly to the college or department.”

These figures are different for fees collected from graduate students.

“If there is student-serving software or hardware that is very specific to a particular department or college, then they use their tech fees for that purpose,” Constant said. “The software paid through central tech fees is universally available to all students.”

A wide range of technology covered by the fee is used daily by thousands of students. According to Lohrbach, some resources include the following:

• Wireless internet
• Microsoft Suite
• Canvas
• Audio-visual equipment (lecture halls or classrooms)
• Software licenses
• CyBox
• Grammarly

Because this fee is not assessed based on use, students could optimize their use by utilizing the available resources from ISU Information Technology.

“Students can maximize the use of technology covered by these charges by taking full advantage of the available resources,” Constant said. “This includes utilizing computer labs, accessing software and services provided by the university and attending class to use lecture hall equipment.”

Constant added that beyond equipment, there are also services to consider.

“Additionally, students should stay informed about the various technology services and support available to them, such as the Solution Center, ISU Self-Service Portal and training sessions,” Constant said.

A big part of the technology side of campus operations is focusing on the future. As technology evolves, one goal is to keep ISU up to date by using some collected funds.

“Other important details include the allocation of funds to support ongoing technology upgrades and maintenance, ensuring that the university’s technology infrastructure remains current and reliable,” Constant said.

Other uses of the fees are cybersecurity preventative measures, student laptop loans and efforts to improve digital accessibility. In the future, allocations towards technology advancements could be made.

“Emerging technologies, such as AI, present unique opportunities but can also require additional investments,” Constant said.

According to the Iowa Board of Regents, technology fees for the 2025-26 school year are proposed to increase by $10 annually.

For more information, visit the mandatory fees website.