College tuition in Washington state bucks the inflation trend
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College tuition is one of the rare things that may have actually become cheaper in Washington in recent years — at least, when adjusted for inflation, according to a new report.
Why it matters: High college costs make it harder for low-income people to earn degrees, while forcing many students to rack up debt they may struggle to pay back later in life.
Driving the news: A recent report from the College Board, which runs the SAT test, found that in-state tuition and fees at Washington's public four-year universities averages $11,850 this year.
- Adjusted for inflation, that's actually 5% lower than in the 2019-20 academic year, per the report.
Flashback: Washington's college tuition prices have stayed more predictable from year to year since 2015, when the state Legislature passed a law tying undergraduate tuition increases to growth in the median wage.
- Under that law, in-state tuition at Washington's public colleges and universities could rise only 3% this academic year, according to the state Office of Financial Management.
Yes, but: After adjusting for inflation, 18 states had average public four-year tuition costs that fell by more than 10%, outpacing Washington's tuition drop.