For decades, college tuition has risen steadily, but now a small group of elite American universities are reaching the six-figure mark. At least 16 institutions have approached or exceeded this figure when considering tuition, fees, housing, and other miscellaneous costs combined.
However, beneath the headline-grabbing figure lies a more complicated reality. While top-line prices have hit new highs at these schools, overall tuition has slowed down or even reversed in recent years. Most students don’t pay full price due to institutional aid.
To understand this trend, experts point to factors such as administrative bloat and a lack of productivity growth in higher education. The average sticker price has only risen 2% in inflation-adjusted terms since 2015, while private institutions have seen prices fall by 7%.
The $100,000 figure is not a universal price but rather a ceiling that affects mostly students from high-income families. It reinforces the public perception that higher education is becoming increasingly unaffordable.
Many Americans are reassessing their college plans due to these costs, with 79% of families making over $100,000 writing off a college option last year. Student loan debt has more than doubled in the past 20 years, adding to the economic pressures on colleges.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/college-tuition-costs-rising-b2996014.html