College costs continue to climb

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 1996

According to the College Board, college tuition and fees for 1996-97 continued to climb at almost the same rate as the previous year and financial aid was available to students at a record level - more than $50,000,000,000. Undergraduates at American colleges are paying, on average, approximately five percent more in tuition and fees at four-year institutions, as well as four to six percent more for room and board.

At four-year private institutions, students are paying $607 more ($12,823 vs. $12,216); at four-year public institutions, $155 more ($2,966 vs. $1,330); and at two-year public institutions, $64 more ($1.394 vs. $1,330) Tuition and fee surcharges for out-of-district students at public institutions average $2,850 and $4,738 at two-year and four-year colleges, respectively.

Despite tuition costs that he says "are daunting to many," College Board president Donald M. Stewart points out that, for most Americans, the fact remains that college is still accessible - especially in the light of financial aid currently available." He urges students and families to keep college costs in perspective, noting that a majority of all students at four-year colleges and universities pay less than $4,000 per year for tuition and fees, and that nearly three-quarters of them pay less than $6,000. "Focusing too much on the highest-priced institutions over-states the problem and unduly alarms the public." Just 4.3% of all full-time undergraduates attend the highest-priced universities.