How to Prepare Yourself for Rising Tuition Fees

College tuition increases are spreading. While some recent hikes are connected to the struggling economy, the reality is that college tuition has been rapidly increasing for decades. Public policy consultant Arthur M. Hauptmann discusses this trend with the New York Times, stating "tuition has increased by twice the inflation rate for the past three decades while annual [student] loan volume has increased tenfold in constant dollars." While certain trends in college university tuition fees might affect increases, experts disagree about particulars.

What's Behind College University Tuition Fee Hikes?
To answer that question, the word "Pell" is bound to come up. Pell Grants are federally-backed grants for economically disadvantaged students. President Obama's decision to increase the maximum Pell Grant amount, to $5,710 a year, has caused a flurry of criticism.

While most critics are not opposed to opening the doors of education to economically disadvantaged students, many argue that colleges use Pell Grant increases as excuses for raising tuition fees. As Richard Vedder, director of Ohio State University's Center of College Affordability and Productivity, tells the New York Times: "Work done at my research center reinforces findings of others that exploding student loan programs have contributed to higher tuition charges, and if Pell Grants grow more inclusive and generous, the same effect will occur with them."

Whether or not Pell Grants directly lead to college tuition increases, there are other factors at play. According to U.S. News & World Report's January 15, 2009 article "The Surprising Causes of Those College Tuition Hikes," heightened tuition fees are related to:

• Reductions in per-student subsidy state tax monies put in effect after 2002; tuition increases are in part making up for these reductions
• Increased spending on administration, maintenance, and support positions
• Increasing use of remedial and counseling services at colleges

And this isn't all. Others point to rising costs of technology or campus security as reasons.

How to Meet Rising College University Tuition Costs
Students and their parents are finding ways--including some creative ways--to face rising tuition fees. On the controversial end, egg donation agencies are appealing to young college women-- attractive and smart college students--by offering around $5,000 per donation. Less invasive ways to tackle rising fees include:

• Taking accelerated classes, which take less time and reduce costs
• Starting at community colleges (which are often much cheaper), and then transferring to your chosen four-year school. Your diploma or degree will be from the school you graduated from.
• Find a college with locked-in tuition programs, which means your tuition can't go up for 4 years.
• If you receive no financial support from parents, take a little time off before you go to school. By the time you're 22, you're considered "independent" and don't need to include parents' income on financial aid forms. Before you're 22, unless you're a ward of the court, you must include your parents' income when applying for financial aid, even if you live on your own.
• Continuously look for scholarships

At the moment, it's unclear whether the trend toward rising fees will continue. But by being aware of where your money is going and by finding ways to deal with rising costs, your college career does not have to suffer. And you may not even have to sell your eggs to get there.