Why is college so expensive?

Change in
tuition per student

Tuition continues to skyrocket

Students pay more now than in 2000 for all types of higher education. Public institutions have seen the most dramatic rise, followed by community colleges and private schools.

• Research universities
  Invest significant resources in research doctorate degrees in addition to undergraduate and masters. Georgetown University, University of Virginia
• Master’s and bachelor’s institutions
  Primarily focused on undergraduate
  and masters-level instruction. Washington and Lee University,
  James Madison University
• Community colleges
  Mostly award associate’s degrees.

Change in
total spending per student

Most schools spend more,

especially research institutions. Only community colleges are spending less per student than they were in 2000.

Change in
spending per student

Research costs grow

Research institutions have increased instruction spending slowly while focusing more growth on research and auxiliary enterprises such as hospitals.

Change in
spending per student

Instruction costs have risen more at private research universities

But other types of spending have grown even faster. Spending on research, academic support and student services have all grown over 25 percent per student since 2000.

Change in
revenue and
spending per student

At community colleges,
spending is down

But revenues are stagnant, thanks in part to a nearly 20 percent drop in state and local support.

Change in
revenue per student

At other public schools,
a revenue shift

The revenue burden has shifted from state government toward tuition.

Change in
revenue per student

A similar trend at other
private institutions

The revenue burden has shifted away from donations toward tuition. The recession caused a dramatic drop in gifts, investments and endowments — these funds are still well below what they were in 2000.