"This too could reflect affluence as out-of-state tuition is typically two- to five-times greater than in-state tuition," the authors write. In addition, the study found the rate of accommodation was higher among out-of-state than in-state students at the various universities studied. "Accommodations are free, but the tests to prove you have a learning disability are not," says McGregor.Īccording to the study, 50 percent of the wealthiest students with a learning disability reported receiving accommodations only 30 percent of low-income, working-class, and middle-class students with a learning disability said they received extra help.
Screenings, interviews, and tests to confirm the existence of a disability can cost as much as $5,000. Many universities require documentation of a student's learning disability in order to qualify for special accommodations. It's up to the student to self-identify, and that's where the money comes in. Post-secondary educational facilities are not mandated to identify students with learning disabilities. However, this study found there's more to the disparity than a wish to go it alone. "Some students with learning disabilities go to college, and they want to manage on their own," says Karla McGregor, a professor in the UI Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and lead author of the study. The disparity might come down to two things: a desire to be independent and money. A new study by the University of Iowa, however, found that only one third of undergraduates from 11 universities who reported having a learning disability were receiving accommodations.