HEHS-96-154 Higher Education: Tuition Increasing Faster ...

GAO

August 1996

United States General Accounting Office

Report to Congressional Requesters

HIGHER EDUCATION Tuition Increasing Faster Than Household Income and Public Colleges' Costs

GAO/HEHS-96-154

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1921 - 1996

GAO United States General Accounting Office Washington, D.C. 20548

Health, Education, and Human Services Division

B-271081

August 15, 1996

Congressional Requesters

As you requested, we have studied the history of increases in college and university tuition and other related postsecondary education costs (names of requesters are listed at the end of this letter). Our 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 in school year 1995-96 and initiatives that some states and colleges have undertaken to hold down tuition increases, make paying for college easier, and streamline processes to help keep total charges lower.

We are sending copies of this report to the Secretary of Education, appropriate congressional committees, and other interested parties. If you have any questions about this report, please call me at (202) 512-7014. Other major contributors are listed in appendix III.

Carlotta C. Joyner Director, Education and

Employment Issues

B-271081

List of Requesters

The Honorable Richard M. Burr The Honorable Stephen E. Buyer The Honorable Chaka Fattah The Honorable Martin Frost The Honorable Gene Green The Honorable Peter Hoekstra The Honorable Andrew Jacobs, Jr. The Honorable Tim Johnson The Honorable Marcy Kaptur The Honorable Sue W. Kelly The Honorable Scott L. Klug The Honorable Frank A. LoBiondo The Honorable William P. Luther The Honorable Edward J. Markey The Honorable William J. Martini The Honorable Andrea H. Seastrand The Honorable Christopher Shays The Honorable Nick Smith The Honorable Robert A. Underwood The Honorable Gerald B.H. Solomon The Honorable Dave Weldon The Honorable Dick Zimmer House of Representatives

The Honorable Carol Moseley-Braun United States Senate

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GAO/HEHS-96-154 Rising College Tuition and Costs

B-271081

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GAO/HEHS-96-154 Rising College Tuition and Costs

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