My Dad graduated from Michigan in the early 50’s when tuition was $75 per semester. When I went to Lawrence Tech in 1973 it was about $1,500 per semester, and by commuting I made enough money over the summer to pay for it. My youngest got his BSEE at MSU and it cost me about $9,000 per semester. There was no way he could pay his own way through in 4-5 years. I considered it an investment in his future, and told him I’m expecting a nice house on a lake when he hits the big time :)
RE: My Dad graduated from Michigan in the early 50’s when tuition was $75 per semester.
According to this inflation calculator,
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
What cost $75 in 1953 would cost $644.41 in 2013.