Iowa universities raise room and board to provide students with more amenities

College students' taste for the good life—from more living space to cable television—is driving an increase in residence hall room rates at Iowa's public universities. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa plan to raise basic rates for room and board an average 6 percent to meet what one administrator described as "the consumer interests" of students. Unlike the four walls and tile floors of the past, the rooms for students must be computer-ready, have air conditioning, fresh paint and at least twice the space.