The 10 States With the Fastest Rising College Tuition

Since the Great Recession, state appropriations to higher education have been at historic lows. In fact, on average, states spend 20% less per student than they did in 2008. As a result, tuition prices have been rising and the cost burden has shifted from society to the students and their families. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recently released a study showing which states have experienced the sharpest increase in tuition over the last seven years. If you live in one of the following 10 states and plan on sending your child to an in-state school, you might want to up your 529 plan contributions. Find a 529 plan in your state 10. Nevada - State Animal: Desert bighorn sheep 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -30.8% Change in average tuition: $1,908, a 42.3% increase In-state 529 plan options: USAA 529 College Savings Plan Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program SSgA Upromise 529 Plan The Vanguard 529 Savings Plan Putnam 529 for America (advisor-sold) 9. Colorado - State Animal: Rocky mountain bighorn sheep 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -17.7% Change in average tuition: $3,280, a 52.8% increase In-state 529 plan options: Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan Smart Choice College Savings Plan Stable Value Plus College Savings Program Scholarï ¿ ½s Choice College Savings Program (advisor-sold) 8. Alabama - State Animal: Black bear 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -36.6% Change in average tuition: $3,481, a 58.1% increase In-state 529 plan options: CollegeCounts 529 Fund CollegeCounts 529 Fund Advisor Plan (advisor-sold) 7. Washington - State Endemic Animal : Olympic Marmot 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -28.4% Change in average tuition: $4,009, a 58.6% increase In-state 529 plan option: Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) 6. California - State Animal: Grizzly Bear 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -11.1% Change in average tuition: $3,518, a 62.2% increase In-state 529 plan option: The ScholarShare College Savings Plan 5. Florida - State Animal: Panther 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -25.0% Change in average tuition: $2,484, a 64.2% increase In-state 529 plan options: Florida 529 Savings Plan Florida Prepaid College Plan 4. Louisiana - State Dog: Catahoula Leopard Dog 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -42.0% Change in average tuition: $2,939, a 67.2% increase In-state 529 plan option: START Saving Program 3. Georgia - State Amphibian: Green Tree Frog 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -22.4% Change in average tuition: $3,319, a 69.5% increase In-state 529 plan option: Path2College 529 Plan 2. Hawaii - State Mammal: Hawaiian Monk Seal 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -20.2% Change in average tuition: $4,010, a 70.0% increase In-state 529 plan option: Hawaiiï ¿ ½s College Savings Program 1. Arizona - State Animal: Ring-tailed Cat 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -47.0% Change in average tuition: $4,734, an 83.6% increase In-state 529 plan options: Arizona Family College Savings Program Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan Ivy Funds InvestEd Plan Didn't see your state? Here's the complete list from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Since the Great Recession, state appropriations to higher education have been at historic lows. In fact, on average, states spend 20% less per student than they did in 2008. As a result, tuition prices have been rising and the cost burden has shifted from society to the students and their families. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recently released a study showing which states have experienced the sharpest increase in tuition over the last seven years. If you live in one of the following 10 states and plan on sending your child to an in-state school, you might want to up your 529 plan contributions. Find a 529 plan in your state 10. Nevada - State Animal: Desert bighorn sheep 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -30.8% Change in average tuition: $1,908, a 42.3% increase In-state 529 plan options: USAA 529 College Savings Plan Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program SSgA Upromise 529 Plan The Vanguard 529 Savings Plan Putnam 529 for America (advisor-sold) 9. Colorado - State Animal: Rocky mountain bighorn sheep 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -17.7% Change in average tuition: $3,280, a 52.8% increase In-state 529 plan options: Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan Smart Choice College Savings Plan Stable Value Plus College Savings Program Scholarï ¿ ½s Choice College Savings Program (advisor-sold) 8. Alabama - State Animal: Black bear 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -36.6% Change in average tuition: $3,481, a 58.1% increase In-state 529 plan options: CollegeCounts 529 Fund CollegeCounts 529 Fund Advisor Plan (advisor-sold) 7. Washington - State Endemic Animal : Olympic Marmot 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -28.4% Change in average tuition: $4,009, a 58.6% increase In-state 529 plan option: Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) 6. California - State Animal: Grizzly Bear 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -11.1% Change in average tuition: $3,518, a 62.2% increase In-state 529 plan option: The ScholarShare College Savings Plan 5. Florida - State Animal: Panther 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -25.0% Change in average tuition: $2,484, a 64.2% increase In-state 529 plan options: Florida 529 Savings Plan Florida Prepaid College Plan 4. Louisiana - State Dog: Catahoula Leopard Dog 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -42.0% Change in average tuition: $2,939, a 67.2% increase In-state 529 plan option: START Saving Program 3. Georgia - State Amphibian: Green Tree Frog 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -22.4% Change in average tuition: $3,319, a 69.5% increase In-state 529 plan option: Path2College 529 Plan 2. Hawaii - State Mammal: Hawaiian Monk Seal 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -20.2% Change in average tuition: $4,010, a 70.0% increase In-state 529 plan option: Hawaiiï ¿ ½s College Savings Program 1. Arizona - State Animal: Ring-tailed Cat 2008-2015 Change in state spending per student: -47.0% Change in average tuition: $4,734, an 83.6% increase In-state 529 plan options: Arizona Family College Savings Program Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan Ivy Funds InvestEd Plan Didn't see your state? Here's the complete list from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: