History/Background

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.
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.

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 -

Josh -

Chance -

Effects on Real People

MEDIA