[Sicon]

When I attended Rutgers University in the mid-late 80's, in-state tuition was $1800/year. Today? $16,263. That's a 903% increase.

Meanwhile, in 1986, the median income for families was $29,460. In 2023? $67,521. That's a 229% increase.

So, tuition over that period increased almost four times faster than median income. Today's colleges are borderline criminal grifters.

[Sicon]

Oh, and just as with healthcare, those ridiculous cost increases went hand-in-hand with increased government subsidies for college tuition (everyone has a RIGHT to a college education!). Who could have seen that coming?

Oh, right. Anyone with three functioning brain cells.

[cgbg]

Basic economics—when you subsidize something (in this case with government guaranteed student loans) you increase effective demand.

If the supply remains relatively stable then costs will skyrocket.

[DPMD]

It would be interesting to compare that increase with that of professor salaries.

[Smber]

I graduated from Rutgers College of Engineering in 1979. Tuition then was $1200/year and I lived at home. In <10 years, tuition increased by 50% judging by what you paid. It started 40 + years ago and has become worse.