Students’ summer earnings will be swallowed up more quickly this fall, as the total cost of attending postsecondary institutions rises by 11 percent.
According to the College Board, which released its annual survey last week, the rate of increase is the same as in 1981-1982. The total cost includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. The figures are based on the board’s survey of more than 3,300 institutions.
Although those footing the bills may take little comfort from this, the increase is “actually smaller than would be anticipated with tuition increases averaging from 13.1 to 20.1 percent” at U.S. colleges and universities, according to the board.
The cost of attending most public colleges or universities is still substantially lower than the cost of going to a private college.
But, perhaps in response to general budget cuts, the cost to students at public institutions rose by an average of 13 percent, up to $4,388, according to the survey. The cost of at-tending a private school rose by an average of 11.1 percent, for a total of $7,475.
“In percentage terms, the public sector has been harder hit than the private, but in absolute dollar terms, of course, average tuitions are still substantially lower in public colleges,” Kathleen Brouder, associate director of the College Scholarship Service, said.
