Cost of a higher education goes higher; Average costs are much more in Minnesota than nationwide for two-year, four-year and private colleges, accordi

BYLINE: Norman Draper, Staff Writer

Here's some bad news for Minnesota parents emptying their piggy banks to pay for college: Minnesota college costs are going up faster than the national average.

A new report by the College Board shows that average Minnesota tuition and fees rose 7 percent this year at public two-year colleges, 8 percent at public four-year colleges, and 7 percent at private colleges.

That compares with national increases of 4 percent for public two-year colleges, 6 percent for public four-year colleges and 6 percent for private colleges.

Over the past couple of years, inflation rates have hovered in the 3- to 4-percent-a-year range.

According to the College Board report released Tuesday, the past five years of tuition hikes nationwide have exceeded inflation by 35 percent and account for the biggest five-year increase in the past three decades covered by the College Board reports.

Such findings are sure to fuel the debate on skyrocketing college costs.

Getting a handle on the cost of attending college has become one of the major education issues in the governor's race, with all three major candidates advocating plans to make college more affordable to Minnesota families.

College officials are well aware of the burden such increases place on students.

"It impacts the ability of students to complete college in a timely manner," said Laura King, vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). "We know students are working more than they used to. We know more parttime class-taking negatively affects students' success. We know the debt load has gone up considerably in the past 10 years, and that's a burden for students while they're in school and after they've finished."

Chad Wegner and Meridian Linster, both juniors at St. Paul's Metropolitan State University, can hold forth about debt. Each estimates $18,000 in accumulated debts from loans that have carried them into their third year of college. Since both want to pursue master's degrees, those debts will pile up higher.

"I'm in denial," said Linster, 27, who also holds down a job and has an 8-year-old child to raise. "I don't think about it; I really don't."

"It's kind of one of those things where you get financial aid and student loans, and you don't pay much attention," Wegner, 32, said. "You know you're in debt. It's kind of like taxes; if people had to write out checks for them, there would be a revolt."

At Metropolitan State, tuition is $4,830 a year. That's double what it was eight years ago.

The College Board report also shows that average costs for all three categories of colleges and universities are much higher in Minnesota than the national average. For instance, two-year community college costs in Minnesota average $4,300 this year, far above the $2,272 national average.

The figures don't include room and board, which is another significant college cost.

The sting of rising costs has hit Minnesota private schools, too. Minneapolis' Augsburg College's total tuition and room and board costs totaled $29,997 this year, a 6 percent increase over last year. Such increases have been par for the course, said Julie Olson, Augsburg vice president of enrollment management. It's taking its toll on students.

"Students at Augsburg are borrowing increasing amounts in student loans," Olson said. "We're concerned about that."

Olson said pressure to raise costs comes from such factors as the increased need for mental health services and rising technology costs. At the University of Minnesota, technology and health care have driven up costs, said Craig Swan, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education at the Twin Cities campus.

Another problem was $185 million in state funding cuts in 2003. "That was one of the largest cuts [of any university budget] in the country," Swan said.

And even though financial aid packages mean many students don't pay the sticker price for attending college, that aid - especially at four-year public colleges - hasn't always kept pace with the costs, according to the College Board report.

The College Board study comes hard on the heels of another study last month by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education that showed college costs taking a bigger bite out of the average Minnesota family income over the past 14 years.

There is a silver lining in the College Board report: Authors found tuition and fees hikes slowing for the third consecutive year. The U recently proposed a 4 1/2 percent annual tuition and fees hike for the next two years. If approved, those would be the smallest increases in at least a decade.

The College Board is a non-profit organization that administers such programs as the SAT college admissions tests and the Advanced Placement program for colleges and high schools.

Norman Draper - 612-673-4547

2006-07 COLLEGE COSTS

Public two-year

Minnesota: $4,300, up 7%

U.S. average: $2,272, up 4%

Public four-year

Minnesota: $7,495, up 8%

U.S. average: $5,836, up 6%

Private four-year

Minnesota: $23,816, up 7%

U.S. average: $22,218, up 6%

Increases are from costs in 2005-06.

Source: College Board