Tuition Increases 4.6% at Private Colleges, While Student Aid Grows 7%

Published tuition and fees will increase by an average of 4.6 percent this fall at private, nonprofit colleges, while institutional student aid is expected to grow by 7 percent, according to the results of an annual tuition survey released today by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Tuition increases have been about the same over the past few years, according to the association, while aid amounts for 2011-12 are down slightly from the 9-percent increase in 2010-11. Citing findings by the College Board, Naicu reports that large expenditures on institutional aid have helped to reduce inflation-adjusted net tuition, which has dropped 11.2 percent at private colleges over the past five years.