According to the latest edition of a yearly report released by the National Center for Education Statistics, University students are not the only ones who have been coping with tuition increases in recent years -- this increase represents the national norm.
"For undergraduates attending public four-year institutions," the report states, "there was a six-percent increase (after adjusting for inflation) in in-state tuition and required fees and a three-percent increase in out-of state tuition and required fees charged between 2004-05 and 2006-07."
A similar increase in tuition also occurred at private, not-for-profit institutions, but with a smaller increase of five percent.
This spring, the University Board of Visitors approved a tuition and fees increase of 8.3 percent for in-state undergraduate students, as well as a seven-percent increase for out-of-state undergraduate students.
According to NCES spokesperson Mike Bowler, "a lot of states are raising tuition because a lot of states are having a tough time right now."
Bowler added that, in general, tuition increases are more often enacted in "non-election" years, noting, however, that the burden of tuition recently has shifted away from taxpayers.
"In Virginia especially, [funding for higher education] has gradually shifted from taxpayers to tuition payers," Bowler said, noting that Commonwealth support for colleges and universities has abated over time.
The report, entitled "Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: Fall 2006 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2005-06," based its findings on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, which collects survey data from nearly 6,700 higher education institutions, including the University.
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