All tuition hikes are not the same.
An important point made by education policy analysts is that college tuition continues to rise every year, well beyond the rate of inflation. But the tuition increases are much worse for some students than others. According to a piece by Douglas Belkin in the Wall Street Journal:
Tuition at four-year state schools increased at a faster rate for in-state students than their out-of-state classmates in the past three years, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education.
Between the 2010-11 and 2012-13 academic years, the average tuition and fees for full-time, first-year, degree-seeking undergraduates at four-year state schools increased 6.7% to $7,526. Out-of-state students saw their tuition and fees increase 4.1% to $17,404.
Private universities increased tuition and fees 3.1 percent between the 2010-11 and 2012-13 academic years.
Public universities are often accused of filling their classes with out-of-state students to make up for deficiencies in public funding, but it looks like it’s mostly in-state students (and their parents) who are really taking the hit here.
