College tuition costs rise again this fall

    The average price of public colleges rose 6.5 percent this fall to slightly more than $7,000.
    The figures were released Tuesday in a comprehensive annual study released by the nonprofit organization the College Board.
    The estimated price that students actually pay after financial aid was about $1,600 at public four-year colleges. But that was still higher than last year as financial aid failed to keep up with tuition increases that colleges blame mostly on state budget cuts.
    Tuition at community colleges also rose. But after counting financial aid community colleges are still essentially free to the average student.
    At private colleges, prices rose 4.4 percent to over $26,000 - though the average bill after aid was under $12,000.
   
    (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)