College costs far outpaced inflation again this fall as the average yearly tuition at a state university or college pushed past $3,000 and private tuition rose beyond $13,000.
The College Board's annual survey found that undergraduate tuition and fees at four-year institutions increased an average of 5 percent since last year, triple the current inflation rate.That means families are paying $136 to $670 more than last year. Add room, board and other expenses, and a year at a public college costs more than $10,000. Costs add up to more than $21,400 on average at a private school.
Increases have run about 5 percent for the past five years after double-digit rises earlier in the decade. Average tuition has more than doubled since 1976, even when inflation is considered.
The latest increase comes amid growing pressure to curb costs. A congressional committee is looking at the issue. Parents have organized the College Parents of America to seek more clout.
Although decrying a fall in state and federal support for higher education, a special panel of educators and others reported this year that colleges and universities must restructure and become more businesslike.
David L. Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said some of that already has been done. And that's one reason, he says, the rate of increase has leveled off at about 5 percent and should decline by the year 2001.
But that gives little comfort to parents.
"It's horrifying," said Allison Foster of Newport News, Va. Her daughter Meghan is a senior in high school. Daughter Caitlyn is 14, meaning both children will be in college at the same time.
Foster is looking at public colleges, even though her parents put her through private ones. She believes her parents struggled, but "now I think the cost is just phenomenal." Aid is hard to come by, she said.
The high-end numbers distort the picture, said Donald M. Stewart, president of the College Board, an association of colleges, schools, universities and other organizations. More than half the undergraduates at four-year institutions pay less than $4,000 for tuition and fees.
"For most Americans, college is still accessible - especially in light of financial aid currently available," he said.
The board also reported that a record $55 billion in financial aid was available in 1996-1997, the most recent year for data. That's up from $32 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars nearly a decade earlier.
But enrollments have increased, and less of the money is available in grants that aid the neediest. Aid per student has grown at half the rate of tuition, the board estimates.
Congress is about to increase the maximum Pell grant from $2,700 to $3,000 - too little, critics say, to keep up with costs. Congress also approved President Clinton's request for $1,500 in yearly tuition tax credits.
Still, colleges are talking about more increases. The question is how much.
In Utah, the State Board of Regents approved a 2.7 percent tuition increase at the state's nine colleges and universities in the 1998-99 academic year.
For the 1997-98 academic year, tuition was increased 3.8 percent. At the University of Utah, tuition and fees for the 1997-98 academic year will be approximately $2,600, with another $4,620 for room and board, according to the Utah System of Higher Education.
At Utah State University, average tuition and fees for a full-time student will be $2,175 and about $3,500 for housing and food. Costs at Weber State University will be $1,935 and $3,380, respectively. Salt Lake Commmunity College has no on-campus housing. Tuition and fees will be about $1,500.
At the private Brigham Young University, tuition is $1,315 a semester for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and $1,975 for nonmembers.
Tuition at Westminster College for the 1997-98 year is $5,488 a semester, and room and board is $2,179 per semester.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
College Board outlines increases in tuition, fees
Increases in tuition and fees for 1997-1998 at colleges and universities surveyed by the College Board:
- At four-year private institutions, tuition and fees rose from $12,994 to $13,664, an increase of $670, or 5 percent.
- At four-year public institutions, in-state tuition and fees rose from $2,975 to $3,111, an increase of $136, or 5 percent.
- At two-year private institutions, tuition and fees rose from $6,613 to $6,855, an increase of $242, or 4 percent.
- At two-year public institutions, in-state tuition and fees rose from $1,465 to $1,501, an increase of $36, or 2 percent.
- Tuition and fee surcharges for out-of-state or out-of-district students at public institutions averaged $2,980 at two-year colleges and $4,987 at four-year colleges.
- At four-year private colleges, room and board rose from $5,363 to $5,549, an increase of $186, or 3 percent.
- At four-year public colleges, room and board rose from $4,167 to $4,361, an increase of $194, or 5 percent.
- At two-year private institutions, room and board rose from $4,346 to $4,543, an increase of $197, or 5 percent.