Tuition and fees rise more than 8% at U.S. public colleges
Tuition and fees at America's public colleges rose more than 8% this year as a weakened economy and severe cuts in state funding took their toll, a report out today says.
By Jacquelyn Martin, AP
Gan Golan of Los Angeles, dressed as the "Master of Degrees," holds a ball and chain representing his college loan debt during an "Occupy D.C." protest Oct. 6.
Public four-year universities charged residents an average of $8,244, up 8.3% from last year, while public two-year schools charged an average of $2,963, up 8.7%, says the report by the non-profit College Board. About 80% of the nation's undergraduates attend public institutions.
That increase is more than double the inflation rate of 3.6% between July 2010 and July 2011. Family earnings dropped across all income levels. And state funding per student declined by 4% in 2010, the latest year available, and 23% over the past decade, the report says.
College costs
Average estimated costs* for full-time undergraduates in 2011-12, before grant aid**:
Public two-year commuter student: $15,286
Public four-year, in-state, lives on campus: $21,447
Public four-year, out-of-state, lives on campus: $33,973
Private non-profit four-year, lives on campus: $42,224
*Costs include tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and other expenses.
**About one-third of full-time undergraduates receive no grant aid.
Source: College Board
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Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education, called the findings "sadly familiar," and said the drop in state support was particularly troubling. "It has become all too common for state legislatures to dip into the pockets of students and families to balance state budgets," she says.
The tuition and fee hike is not the worst of the decade — that occurred in 2004, when sticker prices rose 11% beyond inflation from the previous year.
The report says there may be some good news: a rise in federal student aid — including tax credits and deductions — is blunting the impact for most families. "At a time when students and families are ill-equipped to manage additional expenses, student financial aid is more important than ever," report author Sandy Baum says.
Net price — the published price minus grants and tax breaks — at public four-year colleges averaged $2,490, the report found.
About two-thirds of undergraduates receive grant aid, which averaged $6,539 last year. Average federal loans averaged $4,907. Borrowing by students and parents increased about 2% from 2009-10 to 2010-11.
Borrowing from private sources declined for the third straight year. In Denver today, President Obama will announce a plan through which students can consolidate their debt and reduce their interest rates. The plan also will allow borrowers to cap their student loan payments at 10% of discretionary income.
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