A day after the Board of Regents approved a spring 2016 tuition increase for in-state students at Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa, students on campus are reacting with confusion.

The 3 percent increase will amount to $100 per in-state student next semester. As of now, the tuition increase is solely for the spring 2016 semester.

This tuition hike came as a surprise to many ISU students on campus Thursday.

Becca Kenealy, junior in family and consumer science education and studies, had not heard of the tuition increase prior to speaking with the Iowa State Daily.

“I don’t know why they did it,” Kenealy said. “It would really help to know what it’s going toward.”

Jordan Guerdet, sophomore in kinesiology and health, and Lili Zenobian, sophomore in communications, were concerned how the $100 increase would affect students’ budgets.

“Students will have to take out more loans for school, and it’s an added expense that students don’t need,” Guerdet said.

“It’s just that little bit extra that you wish you could save every week, but you can’t,” Zenobian said.

Edel Aron, senior in mathematics, was worried about existing money in the university’s budget.

“I’m more concerned with how money is already being spent,” Aron said. “If there’s any unnecessary money in the budget that could be cut then we wouldn’t need the tuition increase.”

Though many students seemed confused by the news, some felt it was necessary to support record growth at Iowa State this year.

Shaun Vanweelden, senior in software engineering, and Kelsey Hrubes, sophomore in computer science, agreed the tuition increase made sense considering Iowa State’s record enrollment.

“There’s a lot of growth that needs to happen at Iowa State to support all these new students,” Vanweelden said. “So I’m actually pretty okay with [the increase].”

Vanweelden said he was aware of the increase, but Hrubes had not heard about it yet.

“When you mentioned that there’d be an increase, I was thinking thousands of dollars,” Hrubes said. “But $100? I can breathe easy.”

Hrubes said the $100 would not have a huge impact on her budget.

“I make $100 impulse purchases sometimes so it’s not that big of a deal,” Hrubes said.

Hrubes and Vanweelden said that they could see students’ money being spent in the ongoing projects around campus, and they expected the increased funds to further benefit everyone at Iowa State.

“Even if it’s not helping me, I understand that there’s a lot more people here than just myself and my major,” Vanweelden said. “I think everyone needs a little support.”

The Board of Regents approved an increase for both ISU and UNI students but exempted the University of Iowa at their student government leaders’ request.

Dan Breitbarth, Student Government president, was in favor of the tuition increase for ISU students.

“We’re proud to be the number one school in the state of Iowa not only in total enrollment but also in in-state enrollment as well,” Breitbarth said. “With that comes particular challenges that are positive challenges.”

Breitbarth said he recommended a “minimal increase” for ISU students now to prevent a large hike in upcoming years.

“There are some resources that the university needs at the current moment that we don’t have,” Breitbarth said. “Those resources could become available with financial backing.”

Breitbarth said the Thielen Health Center and on-campus dining services were just two examples of areas that could use additional resources.

“I do serve on the University Budget Advisory Committee, and I have input on financial matters,” Breitbarth said. “I can make sure [the money is] designated to the correct accounts and that that it’s going toward benefitting the students.”

Breitbarth said he consulted the 50 student government delegates and 25 student leaders from the College of Business as to the soundness of the financial details before reaching the decision to advocate for the tuition increase. Each of the student representatives supported his decision, he said.

“I was pretty comfortable and confident with the decision that I made,” Breitbarth said. “In fact, it’s not even the decision that I made — it’s the decision the students made; it’s what they supported.”

Breitbarth said he hasn’t heard any feedback since the Board of Regents approved the increase, but he always welcomes comments and concerns from the students.

“I’m confident that I can alleviate their concerns,” Breitbarth said.

For students concerned about the future of their finances at Iowa, Breitbarth said the Student Loan Education Office, located in 0680 Beardshear Hall, is available to help with financial aid questions and planning.