Team 1: Story 1: The Changing Economy, The Rise of Tuition In the SEC

History/Background

Our topic covers the recent trend of the increase in tuition in the southeastern region of the country and how that ties into inflation. We also discussed how this has affected students with interviews from former college graduates.

• Tuition increasing more than other expenses ties into several different factors. Many states around the country have cut per-student funding, which has resulted in tuition rising to fill in the created gaps. This has happened a lot in the SEC region, which has played a major factor towards why schools across the conference are experiencing dramatic rises in tuition costs.
• Federal student loans have increased purchasing power ever since federal loan programs have expanded since the early 2000s, resulting in schools raising prices without reducing demand afterwards.
• The demand for college education has only risen dramatically over time as tuition continues to increase yearly.
• With the cost of US healthcare going up, employer expenses are also increasing which ties into tuition.
• According to the linked article titled, “20 Years of Tuition Costs at National Universities,” schools that are not adjusted for inflation have increased tuition prices by an average of 105.6%. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/see-20-years-of-tuition-growth-at-national-universities?edu-2294-control=true
• On the other hand, schools that ARE adjusted for inflation have had tuition increase by just an average of 28%.
• As of 2025, private universities are charging an average of $51,316 in tuition. Out-of-state students at public universities pay an average $30,844, while in-state students pay $12,790.
• Private universities don’t receive much state funding if any, which has resulted in higher prices of tuition. The rise of inflation hasn’t helped this case as its influence has played a part in tuition increase.
• In summary, college tuition increasing has recently began to outpace inflation in the US. Financial aid plays a huge role in supporting students who are still trying to pay for school.

Below is a chart displaying the trends of tuition costs to attend schools around the SEC from 2015-2025:

Increased SEC Tuition (Excluding Oklahoma & Texas)

School	Tuition as of 2015	Tuition as of 2025	10 Year Increase
Alabama	$25,950	$34,172	31.68%
Arkansas	$21,826	$29,966	37.29%
Auburn	$28,040	$34,922	24.54%
Florida	$28,659	$28,659	0%
Georgia	$29,832	$31,688	6.22%
Kentucky	$24,268	$34,140	40.68%
LSU	$26,877	$28,631	6.53%
Mississippi State	$20,142	$27,637	37.21%
Missouri	$25,166	$36,056	43.27%
Ole Miss	$20,674	$28,600	38.34%
South Carolina	$30,298	$36,298	19.80%
Tennessee	$30,368	$33,256	9.51%
Texas A&M	$27,745	$40,124	44.62%
Vanderbilt	$44,712	$67,498	50.96%

Below is a chart of the inflation rates from 2015-2025:

Year	Inflation Rates By Year
2015	0.7
2016	2.1
2017	2.1
2018	1.9
2019	2.3
2020	1.4
2021	7.0
2022	6.5
2023	3.4
2024	2.9
2025	2.7

 

Our Angle on the Story + Personal Impact

There are some complex but possible solutions to combatting the increase in prices of tuition. We think the most interesting and viable option is making alternative routes available for students who either can’t afford or would rather take a different route than a four-year college institution. Community college could be improved by emphasizing career alignment and student services. This will influence more people to enroll for an associate’s degree, making college more affordable in the long run.
Schools have gone out of their way to spend excessive amounts of money in what is called the amenities arms race to lure students in. This has resulted in an increase of fees that students must pay on top of their tuition. The core tuition should be a separate thing for students when covering costs.

Kellen - Kellen was set on coming to Mississippi State once he graduated high school. His father works in the Landscape Architcture Department, so he got half-off tuition which is a deal that is nearly impossible to pass up. His parents have helped him when needed and he has been in the process of paying for all of college and his tuition. While the tuition is affordable, Kellen has taken multiple loans out from the university to buy some time. He has worked in the athletic department with Communications since he was a freshman, gaining alot of valuable experience. The internship itself doesn't pay very much, so he is relying on his resume to land him a decent job to make a comfortable amount of money in the future. He is looking for a job in the athletic department, either at Mississippi State or somewhere else not too far away.

Josh - Joshua started off going to community college because he didn’t have a plan on his future just yet and he knew he wanted to do something with sports broadcasting. For his first semester he had to pay a few hundred dollars for tuition but scholarships helped pay for the rest of his time at community college. Josh’s parents helped him out in times of need but he mostly did everything himself, taking on freelance jobs with a local production company. His parents also made deals with him regarding his schooling that they also made with his siblings such as, if you get schooling paid for then you get a “newer” car. Since Josh didn’t have his school paid for he didn’t get a car until the middle of his second semester. When he went to Mississippi State his parents gave him the Walmart card for groceries so he had one less thing to worry about. Josh has been at MSU for three years and has been at three different apartments with each one increasing in price. He has been getting by due to his refund checks from the university. Josh works for the broadcast department and doesn’t make much money due to the student worker rates and typically chooses to work rather than go home to see family and friends due to his lack of income.

Chance - Chance had an interesting personal impact. During his senior year, he was locked in to coming to Mississippi State, but after hearing some personal and mental struggles others have had to deal with when it came to paying tuition, he was concerned with how he would actually be financially trying to go to college. He had gotten scholarship money and FAFSA, but was still wanting more of a security blanket when he noticed the inflation of tuition prices. After talking to his uncle about how he’s approaching college, who was at the time an army recruiter, his uncle told him about the army national guard paying for service members college tuition. So in an effort to avoid any future stress in fighting the inflation of tuition, he joined the national guard. 

The biggest personal impact for him is the fact that he’s now in service of a military branch just to cover college tuition. He only enlisted for the college benefits and never would’ve enlisted if it wasn’t for the inflation of college tuition. His 4 years in college would’ve looked a lot different and he would’ve had a lot more free time if he didn’t feel concerned about tuition inflation. He’s thankful for the extra money he’s receiving, but he hates that he ultimately had to enlist into the national guard over the increase in college tuition. 

Information We've Gathered From Interviews

Joshua went out and conducted multiple interviews to gather information about struggles, changes and purchasing power in college.

Joshua interviewed Jace Ellington to learn about his views on struggles and changes with the rise of tuition. Ellington, a University of Mississippi alumnus from Lake Worth, Florida, discussed his experiences with rising costs and financial struggles during his time at Ole Miss.

 

Joshua interviewed Bailey Pulliam about his experience on the rise of inflation surrounding him. Pulliam, a Mississippi State University alumnus, talked about his views on Starkville's inflation rates increasing.

 

Photo Gallery

1. The new pickle ball courts outside of Joe Frank Sanderson Center were installed in the fall of 2025.  
2. MSU Parking Services have taken a massive toll on students' accounts, especially with the renovated parking services system.
3. With constant construciton going on around campus, students' wallets are affected.

4. A parking toll service machine on MSU's campus outside of Perry Cafeteria.   
5. New renovations to Perry cafeteria gives students a new look at a popular food option...
6. ...but not a popular sight in students' AR accounts.

7. This room will host a new student lounge with arcade games inside the Colvard Student Union in the future.   
8. Azalea Hall wrapped up construction and began housing students for the Fall of 2025.
9. Students walking between the new Jim and Thomas Duff Center and J. Charles Lee Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building.

10. Students standing in front of Chic-Fil-A at the Colvard Student Union.   
11. More Students in the Colvard Student Union.
12. Students walking to and from class outside the Colvard Student Union and McCool Hall.

13. A student logging into his computer.   
14. A student focused on his laptop.
15. The student in a state of stress.

16. A student feeling lost and unsure of himself after seeing his student account.   
17. Known by many students as the spinning wheel of death.
18. Garner Hall is the account services & financial aid office at Mississippi State.

19. Not only a costly sign, but a painful sign for many students who just want an education.  
20. Sometimes students just feel like this is all that they have at best.

Email the team at kww95@msstate.edu with any questions.

View our Sources