it's not just one thing. here's like 5 different factors that all result in tuition increases 1. state budgets for universities are cut for political reasons n

it's not just one thing. here's like 5 different factors that all result in tuition increases 1. state budgets for universities are cut for political reasons not having much of anything to do with the university itself. budget shortfalls must be made up from other sources, primarily from tuition increases. 2. increased student enrollment due to increasing economic and social pressure for people to get a college degree. more students requires more facilities and more staff, which requires more funding. 3. natural aging of physical plant of university facilities, combined with other long-term maintenance costs (pensions, for example) that have historically been underfunded and now need more funding. 4. a price spiral relationship between availability of student lending and tuition costs. tuition costs increase so student lending amounts increase so tuition costs increase etc. 5. real actual greed. this isn't universally true but it can't be dismissed. some universities will just raise tuition simply because they can.