The cost of higher education continues to grow. The College Board says the sticker price of in-state tuition at four-year public universities climbed an average of roughly $400 this fall to $8,655, an increase of nearly 5 percent.

Graduation
Flickr User shiladsen
loading...

The report largely blames state cuts for rising tuition. Add on room-and-board charges and the full cost for students living on campus rose nationally to $17,860.

New Jersey has the third-highest published in-state tuition charges, at more than $12,000. New Hampshire topped the list at more than $14,000 while Wyoming was on the low end at less than $4,300.

Report co-author Sandy Baum says higher education is devouring an ever-increasing share of family income, but the numbers could also signal that unsustainable trends in costs, borrowing and aid are at last beginning to break.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM