While tuition costs increase (as they tend to do, being a high-demand and limited-supply item...), the actual direct cost to students has been decreasing during Bush's tenure.

See USA Today for more.

The costs go up, but the amount students (and/or their families) are expected to immediately spend has been decreasing.

Facts4Ohio needs some better "facts"...

Got a USA Today URL?

also, does tuition have to go up almost 10% a year in this state? I have been in college since 1997 (not full time) and have seen some pretty drastic price hikes.

Somehow, I don't believe that the failings of the state of Ohio and the colleges of Ohio don't fall under the category of presidential duties. If you don't like Bob Taft (and who does), he'll be gone soon, but this isn't Bush's responsibility.

hehe, you have a good point about Taft, but there is a point where the federal and the state meet, and that is where the president does come into the picture.

USA Today link here:

What students pay on average for tuition at public universities has fallen by nearly one-third since 1998, thanks to new federal tax breaks and a massive increase in state and federal grants to most students and their families.
Contrary to the widespread perception that tuition is soaring out of control, a USA TODAY analysis found that what students actually pay in tuition and fees -- rather than the published tuition price -- has declined for a vast majority of students attending four-year public universities. In fact, today's students have enjoyed the greatest improvement in college affordability since the GI bill provided benefits for returning World War II veterans.

What made the difference: a $22 billion annual increase in grants and tax breaks since 1998.

That 80% jump in financial aid -- targeting middle-class families earning $40,000 to $100,000 a year -- has more than offset dramatic increases in tuition prices.

More from the same link:

"USA TODAY analyzed what students paid for tuition and fees after grants, discounts, tax credits and deductions. Other studies focus on the listed price of tuition. But listed college tuition is like the sticker price on a new car: Few people actually pay it. In 2003, students paid an average of just 27% of the official tuition price at four-year public universities when grants and tax breaks are counted."

"Average tuition paid at public universities fell 32% from $1,636 in the 1997-98 academic year to $1,115 in 2002-03. During that time, the published tuition price rose 18% to an average of $4,202. About three-fourths of the nation's 12 million college students attend public institutions."

"Total costs for tuition and room and board were flat at $6,794 at public schools from 1998 to 2003."

"Average tuition paid at private universities rose 7% over five years to an average of $10,684 in 2003, less than the 20% increase in published tuition prices."

"Congress has approved eight tax breaks for college education since 1997. Last year, these tax benefits saved families more than $7 billion. Key benefits:

• 6.5 million families got tuition tax credits that reduced taxes an average of $1,350 per return.

• 3.5 million received a tuition tax deduction that saved an average of $325 in income taxes.

The most affluent taxpayers -- 1.5% of returns are for incomes above $200,000 -- do not qualify for tax breaks, but many benefited from big increases in grants that reward academic performance. Schools have increased merit aid to recruit the best students, who tend to be affluent. And since 1993, 14 states have started merit-based scholarships to reward students who achieve good grades in high school.

The poor have benefited from increases in federal Pell grants from $6 billion to $12 billion since 1998."

Let me repeat what I stated in comment #1:

While tuition costs increase (as they tend to do, being a high-demand and limited-supply item...), the actual direct cost to students has been decreasing during Bush's tenure.

The costs go up, but the amount students (and/or their families) are expected to immediately spend has been decreasing.

Facts4Ohio needs some better "facts"...