Tuition hikes p1 - Military - College News and Information - Military Times EDGE

If you’re heading to college in the fall, know this: It’s probably going to cost more than you had planned.

As the slumping economy forces states to slash spending, students can expect the sharpest increases in years. Final prices will not be set until state budgets are finished in the coming months, but the trend is clear. In previous recessions, state-supported institutions have raised tuition between 8 and 10 percent annually for several years running, said Nick Johnson of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C.

Students could see some relief at private universities, which may have less room to raise prices without losing business or looking greedy. Augustana and Princeton are among schools that have already announced their lowest tuition increases in at least 25 years. Merrimack College and Benedictine University have announced freezes for next year.