As per the College Board reports, the total sticker price of a year at a typical university increased by more than $1,000 in 2009, even though living costs fell.
The average price for tuition, room, board, books, and all other expenses at public universities jumped by $1,062, or 5.8 percent, to $19,388 for the academic year that has just started. The total student budget for private colleges rose by $1,638, or 4.4 percent, to $39,028.
The good news is that the Community colleges, which educate about 50 percent of all college students, are still at a good bargain. Their average tuition is just $2,544 a year, up only $172 from last year. Despite the reductions in state and private scholarship programs and increases in tuition cause by economic slowdown, the total amount of grants and tax benefits has been rising.
