New research indicates students are paying significantly less to attend public universities than they were a decade ago. And tuition increases at private colleges have finally slowed after years of hefty rises. Figures compiled by the nonprofit College Board indicate the average student attending an in-state public university this year faces a tuition bill of $11,610, down 4% from a decade earlier, when taking inflation into account. But the real savings come in what the average student actually pays after getting grants and financial aid. That’s down a whopping 40% over the decade, from $4,140 to $2,480 annually, according to the data. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest single factor in the changes.
