College prices are increasing at two- and four-year institutions across the U.S., according to a 2010 survey by the College Board.
The annual study “Trends in College Pricing” measures variations in pricing at two-year colleges and four-year public and private institutions.
In the past year, published in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions rose by about 8 percent, according to the study.
The average cost of in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions was $7,605 in the 2010-11 year, according to the study.
From the 2009-10 to 2010-11 school years, the University’s annual tuition and required fees for full-time in-state undergraduate students increased by 10.1 percent, according to Bernie Braun, applications consultant in the Office of Budget and Planning.
The average cost of tuition and fees for in-state students is $5,764 this year, according to the Office of Budget and Planning.
Out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year universities are 6 percent higher, according to the study.
Out-of-state tuition and fees for the University increased by 13.1 percent, according to data from Budget and Planning.
Since funding for the University is controlled by the State Legislature, the passing of the LA GRAD Act will affect tuition increases, Braun said.
The LA GRAD Act will allow public state universities to increase tuition by 10 percent every year for the next six years if the institution meets certain goals in retention and graduation rates.
While this increase is more than average, the University is still more affordable than many peer institutions, according to Budget and Planning.
“The key point is that while prices are increasing, LSU is still very affordable when compared to other peer institutions,” Braun said.
Peer institution schools are similar in size and programs, like the universities of Georgia and Tennessee, according to Budget and Planning.
For the 2009-10 academic year, the average cost of tuition and required fees was $7,426. The University’s tuition and required fees cost was $5,233, according to Budget and Planning.
The study also compared tuition and fees and room and board increases from 2001 to 2010.
Tuition and fees increased by 5.6 percent at public four-year institutions during that time, according to the study.
In 2001-02, tuition and fees cost $3,468, and $5,086 in 2009-10, according to Budget and Planning.
Room and board also constitutes a large portion of undergraduate fees.
According to the College Board report, room and board rose 4.6 percent at public four-year universities from the 2009-10 academic year to the 2010-11 academic year.
On average, University room and board cost $4,610 in the 2009-10 academic year and increased to $4,890 in the 2010-11 academic year — a 6.1-percent rise.
Published tuition and fees at private, nonprofit four-year colleges increased by 4.5 percent on average from 2010-11, according to the study.
Estimated published tuition and fees at private, for-profit institutions increased by an average 5.1 percent in the past year.
The Office of Budget and Planning prepares similar reports specifically on University pricing for external and peer surveys, Braun said.
 
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Contact Grace Montgomery at [email protected]