Tuition at public four-year colleges rose by 7 percent in 2005-the least amount of growth within the past four years, according to an annual survey by the College Board. But, because colleges have increased their use of merit-based aid over need-based aid, some students found it more difficult to finance their education. For families in the lowest quartile of the income distribution, the net price as a percentage of income for tuition at public four-year colleges has increased 6 percent compared to the top quartile’s net price that has only increased by 1 percent over the same period.
“We have reached an indefensible point where a low-income, high-ability student is no more likely to attend college than a low-ability, high-income student,” said William Kirwan, chancellor at the University System of Maryland.
