Va college tuition outpaces incomes

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Tuition and fees at Virginia's colleges and universities are outpacing the rise in family incomes, and administrative costs also are rising faster than instructional spending.

That's according to a study of the state's 15 public and 24 private schools by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

The report shows that tuition and fees at 17 schools total more than 40 percent of Virginians' median household income, up from 10 schools in 2004.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch says the report shows that administrative costs increased by an average of 65 percent at public and 49 percent at private schools over a six-year period that ended in the 2008 fiscal year, the most recent statistics. Instructional spending rose 45 percent for public schools and about 42 percent for private schools.

------

Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com