As of April 2017, student loan debt in the U.S. has ballooned to over $1.4 trillion. This is largely due to record enrollment in higher education and skyrocketing tuition costs over the past five decades. As a result, the average 2016 college graduate had $37,172 in student loan debt when they entered the job market.
Since 1995, the average tuition and fees at private universities increased by 179 percent, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students at public universities rose 226 percent. In-state tuition and fees at public colleges grew the most, jumping nearly 300 percent.
With that in mind, the data analysts at StartClass, an education research site by Graphiq, identified the 100 American universities that have experienced the most extensive tuition hikes in the last decade. To do this, they used data from the National Center for Education Statistics to determine the tuition and fee cost for the 2005-2006 school year and compared it to the cost of the 2015-2016 school year.
The list is sorted on the percent increase of tuition costs for in-state undergraduates at degree-granting, public and private, not-for-profit institutions with at least 5,000 students.
Surprisingly, of the 100 institutions on this list, all but two are public colleges. Many schools have either seen decreases in state funding or insubstantial increases that don’t cover rising costs, forcing universities to rely more on tuition to maintain their operating budget.
Western Illinois University, in particular, had state funding slashed from 51 percent of its core revenue to just 19 percent over ten years. As a result, despite the 61 percent tuition increase during the same period, university officials considered cutting degree programs. Colorado state schools, meanwhile, have virtually cut state appropriations entirely in exchange for a tuition stipend, a program that students can apply for. Without it, an enrollee is responsible for their share and the state’s share of tuition.
10. University of New Orleans
State: Louisiana
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 100.34%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 73.96%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $8,004.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $3,995.19
Total enrollment (2015): 8,423
9. Dalton State College
State: Georgia
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 100.41%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 62.45%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $4,052.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $2,021.87
Total enrollment (2015): 5,044
8. University of North Florida
State: Florida
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 101.48%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 43.67%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $6,394.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $3,173.58
Total enrollment (2015): 15,675
7. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
State: Texas
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 103.2%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 43.21%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $7,292.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $3,588.63
Total enrollment (2015): 28,584
6. the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
State: Louisiana
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 104.66%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 90.6%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $8,256.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $4,034.02
Total enrollment (2015): 17,508
5. College of William and Mary
State: Virginia
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 105.22%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 45.96%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $19,372.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $9,439.42
Total enrollment (2015): 8,484
4. University of Georgia
State: Georgia
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 106.92%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 45.9%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $11,622.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $5,616.56
Total enrollment (2015): 36,130
3. University of Arizona
State: Arizona
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 108.89%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 96.51%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $11,403.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $5,458.79
Total enrollment (2015): 42,595
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
State: Georgia
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 116.35%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 40.57%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $12,204.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $5,640.83
Total enrollment (2015): 25,034
1. the University of Hawaii at Manoa
State: Hawaii
Percent in-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 148.89%
Percent out-of-state tuition increase (2005-2015): 152.77%
Tuition and fees (2015-2016): $11,164.00
Tuition and fees (2005-2006): $4,485.48
Total enrollment (2015): 18,865
By Dustin Clendenen | Data work by Eva Reveal
