The U.S. Department of Education has reported that tuition costs continue to rise with costs increasing faster than inflation and by approximately 50% just in the last 10 years:
For the 2007–08 academic year, annual prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board were estimated to be $11,578 at public institutions and $29,915 at private institutions. Between 1997–98 and 2007–08, prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public institutions rose by 30 percent, and prices at private institutions rose by 23 percent, after adjustment for inflation.
| Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting institutions, by type and control of institution: Selected years, 1980-81 to 2007-08 | |||
| Year and control of institution | All institutions | 4-year institutions | 2-year institutions |
| All institutions | |||
| 1980–81 | $3,101 | $3,499 | $2,230 |
| 1990–91 | 6,562 | 7,602 | 3,930 |
| 2000–01 | 10,818 | 12,922 | 5,460 |
| 2001–02 | 11,380 | 13,639 | 5,718 |
| 2002–03 | 12,014 | 14,439 | 6,252 |
| 2003–04 | 12,953 | 15,505 | 6,705 |
| 2004–05 | 13,792 | 16,509 | 7,086 |
| 2005–06 | 14,629 | 17,447 | 7,231 |
| 2006–07 | 15,483 | 18,471 | 7,466 |
| 2007–081 | 16,245 | 19,362 | 7,645 |
| Public institutions | |||
| 1980–81 | $2,373 | $2,550 | $2,027 |
| 1990–91 | 4,757 | 5,243 | 3,467 |
| 2000–01 | 7,586 | 8,653 | 4,839 |
| 2001–02 | 8,022 | 9,196 | 5,137 |
| 2002–03 | 8,502 | 9,787 | 5,601 |
| 2003–04 | 9,247 | 10,674 | 6,012 |
| 2004–05 | 9,864 | 11,426 | 6,375 |
| 2005–06 | 10,454 | 12,108 | 6,492 |
| 2006–07 | 11,049 | 12,797 | 6,815 |
| 2007–081 | 11,578 | 13,424 | 6,966 |
| Private institutions2 | |||
| 1980–81 | $5,470 | $5,594 | $4,303 |
| 1990–91 | 12,910 | 13,237 | 9,302 |
| 2000–01 | 21,368 | 21,856 | 14,788 |
| 2001–02 | 22,413 | 22,896 | 15,825 |
| 2002–03 | 23,340 | 23,787 | 17,753 |
| 2003–04 | 24,624 | 25,069 | 19,558 |
| 2004–05 | 25,810 | 26,257 | 20,093 |
| 2005–06 | 26,889 | 27,317 | 21,170 |
| 2006–07 | 28,439 | 28,919 | 20,284 |
| 2007–081 | 29,915 | 30,393 | 21,712 |
1Preliminary data based on fall 2006 enrollment weights.
2Because of their low response rate, data for private 2-year colleges must be interpreted with caution.
NOTE: Data are for the entire academic year and are average total charges for full-time attendance.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2009). Digest of Education Statistics, 2008 (NCES 2009-020), Table 331.
These numbers really seem low. If you take a look at some of the schools at the top of the college rankings, their tution is even higher!
I have to agree with Julie K. Prices are going up, but I don’t think the value of the education is really keeping pace.
This is crazy. If prices keep increasing, who is going to pay or be able to pay? It is not surprising student loan debt passed up credit card debt. Schools are out of control. They think they can charge whatever they want, and people will just keep paying. I don’t care how many student loans or financial aid dollars are made available…guess who has to pay back student loans…students…
Are you telling me that the quality of the education has increased by 50% in the last 10 years or that the value of undergraduate degree has increased by 50% over the 10 years? I don’t think so!
Tuition costs seem out of control! At least gas prices go up and down…tuition costs just go up! This is a little ridiculous!