As Unimpressive pointed out, that&#x27;s the cost of <i>tuition</i>. The <i>total cost</i> (tuition + state expenditures + fees + endowments) per student has roughly paced with inflation over the same time frame -- and in some cases, dramatically decreased. You have to dig a little deeper to see those numbers, but several states have done their own analysis. Here&#x27;s one for California:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;keepcaliforniaspromise.org&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2013&#x2F;12&#x2F;figure1.jpg" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;keepcaliforniaspromise.org&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2013&#x2F;12...</a><p>Seemingly nobody understands, or wants to understand this point..  College used to be an investment made by the working class in the youth paid for via taxes (state expenditures &gt;&gt; tuition), it&#x27;s now flipped to an investment made by 18-year olds in their own careers (tuition &gt;&gt; state expenditures) -- Both approaches have their own merits, but focusing on cutting the cost of education misses the forest for the trees when those costs haven&#x27;t increased over time.