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Higher Education: Tuition Increasing Faster Than Household Income and Public Colleges' Costs. Report to Congressional Requesters.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Higher Education: Tuition Increasing Faster Than Household Income and Public Colleges' Costs. Report to Congressional Requesters.
Language: English
Authors: Joyner, Carlotta C., General Accounting Office, Washington, DC. Health, Education, and Human Services Div.
Availability: U.S. General Accounting Office, P.O. Box 6015, Gaithersburg, MD 20884-6015 (first copy free, additional copies $2 each).
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 73
Publication Date: 1996
Report Number: GAO/HEHS-96-154
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Access to Education, Cost Indexes, Educational Finance, Expenditures, Higher Education, In State Students, Inflation (Economics), Paying for College, Public Colleges, Statistics, Student Costs, Trend Analysis, Tuition
Geographic Terms: U.S.; District of Columbia
Abstract: This report discusses the increase in college tuition and related fees at 4-year public colleges and universities from school year 1980-81 through 1994-95 and schools' expenditures over the same period. The report also discusses variations in tuition charges among states, factors contributing to increased school expenditures, and initiatives undertaken to help lower student costs. Principal findings include: (1) tuition during this period increased 234 percent whereas median household incomes have risen 82 percent and the Consumer Price Index 74 percent; (2) the two factors most responsible for tuition increases were the rise in schools' expenditures and schools' greater dependency on tuition as a revenue source; (3) schools' expenditures increased 121 percent over this period; (4) the share of schools' revenue provided by tuition rose from 16 to 23 percent and the share of revenue provided by state appropriations declined by 14 percentage points; and (5) states average tuition charges for in-state students varied from a low of $1,524 to a high of $5,521 in 1994-95. Colleges have undertaken a variety of initiatives to deal with students' increasing financial burdens including holding down tuition increases, making paying for college easier, and streamlining students' progress to graduation. (Contains a list of 8 related products from the General Accounting Office.) Contains 24 references. (MAH)
Journal Code: RIEFEB1997
Entry Date: 1997
Accession Number: ED399847
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This report discusses the increase in college tuition and related fees at 4-year public colleges and universities from school year 1980-81 through 1994-95 and schools' expenditures over the same period. The report also discusses variations in tuition charges among states, factors contributing to increased school expenditures, and initiatives undertaken to help lower student costs. Principal findings include: (1) tuition during this period increased 234 percent whereas median household incomes have risen 82 percent and the Consumer Price Index 74 percent; (2) the two factors most responsible for tuition increases were the rise in schools' expenditures and schools' greater dependency on tuition as a revenue source; (3) schools' expenditures increased 121 percent over this period; (4) the share of schools' revenue provided by tuition rose from 16 to 23 percent and the share of revenue provided by state appropriations declined by 14 percentage points; and (5) states average tuition charges for in-state students varied from a low of $1,524 to a high of $5,521 in 1994-95. Colleges have undertaken a variety of initiatives to deal with students' increasing financial burdens including holding down tuition increases, making paying for college easier, and streamlining students' progress to graduation. (Contains a list of 8 related products from the General Accounting Office.) Contains 24 references. (MAH)