By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
DES MOINES -- Lindsay Wesdorf and Tina Stanley both live on campus at Drake University. Overall, they love the school, but once a year they get an email they dread opening.
"I found out through our school email....tuition is going up," Wesdorf said.
A letter from the president of the university states that undergraduate tuition will go up 4.5 percent and room and board another 3.7, making the total cost per year nearly $40,000.
"I think it is kind of crazy," Wesdorf said. "There is between 3,000 and 4,000 students that go here, so to go up in tuition for each student that much is kind of ridiculous."
According to the school, Drakes tuition increases have been below the national average for both private and public universities; however the continual hikes are making current students uneasy.
"I wish we would have known…ahead of time so I could have prepared for it," said Jasmine Anderson, a Drake University Junior.
The schools say the reason for the hike is to retain the faculty and staffs they have as salary requirements and benefits have gone up. A smaller portion of the money will go to a newly adopted strategic plan for the school.
However, students question if the cost is worth what they are getting out it.
"Its definitely too high because it feels like you go into debt for it," said Jared Netley, a pharmacy student. "Then you just have to work your way out of it and it doesn't really give you that much advantage, especially in the job market today."
Drake University administrators were not available for comment on Monday, but a spokesman says the school does give out $50 million each year in scholarships to their students to help offset the costs.
