The state of Iowa is going through a serious budget crunch, for some reason a lot of us Iowans don't understand too well. It seemed to happen all of a sudden, from comfortably in the black to no money. It happened right after the election of our democratic governor (Vilsack); don't know the exact connection. However, all of the three state universities are being forced to reduce their budgets and raise tuition and fees. Have been told by an administrator that it is likely the percentage of university costs born by the student instead of the state will rise significantly and permanently.
One interesting result of all this to watch a democratic governor who is completely hamstrung with no big state dollars to distribute to all the usual toadies. He has been trying still to increase public school funding to pay off the NEA which busted its collective rear to get him elected, but I don't think he has been terribly successful, though he has squeezed some increases out for them.
He is apparently afraid to suggest a tax increase. Good.