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Public university students today pay $3,000 more in annual tuition than their counterparts a decade ago. Why that is depends on whom you ask. Some pundits like to blame administrative bloat or the construction boom. Within higher education, many cite the decline in state support.
In the media
Kellie Woodhouse
New Demos Report Shows State Disinvestment in Public Higher Education is Driving Tuition Increases Decreased State Funding is Responsible for Nearly 80 Percent of the Rise in Public Education Tuition Recently, there has been much debate about the real cause of tuition increases, which have risen by
Press release/statement
[...] “[P]ublic higher education in this country no longer exists,” writes Hiltonsmith. “Because more than half of core educational expenses at ‘public’ 4-year universities are now funded through tuition, a private source of capital, they have effectively become subsidized private institutions.”
In the media
Emily Deruy

Popular theories for rising tuition like administrative “bloat” and student aid are at most minor contributors to tuition increases. Here's the real causes.

Research
Robert Hiltonsmith
As the glow of finally deciding on a college begins to wear off, many students and families must wrestle with how they’re going to pay for school.
In the media
Jillian Berman
When discussing race, the conservative argument is best expressed by the famous words of Chief Justice John Roberts: "The best way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race." Translation: America has done bad things in its history, but those bad
In the media
Sean McElwee
In the wake of the recent gutting of the Voting Rights Act, partisans were quick to jump on the opportunity to restrict unfavorable voters. Across the country, conservatives in particular have debated fiercely whether to pursue voter suppression to remain competitive in an increasingly diverse
In the media
Sean McElwee
(NEW YORK, NY) This morning, the Building Movement Project (BMP)—a Demos affiliate that equips nonprofits to advance social change—contributed to a new report #BlackWorkersMatter. It highlights how the economic crisis affects black communities, shares analysis on the black jobs crisis, and elevates
Press release/statement
[...] So far, advocates have yet to coalesce around a detailed policy for debt-free college. The congressional resolutions are general statements of principle rather than detailed legislation.
In the media
Alex Seitz-Wald
The lack of retirement security for middle-class and low-wage workers is a growing crisis that Washington has refused to address, even though it demands immediate attention.
In the media
Letitia James
Bill Samuels