Minnesota private colleges see tuition increase 4.8 percent

Students at Minnesota's 17 private liberal arts colleges will see their tuition go up an average of 4.8 percent this fall, which is less than last year's average of 6.7 percent.

Minnesota Private College Council spokesman John Manning said private colleges are trying to balance their increasing costs with the price of tuition.

"The average increase of 4.8 percent is responding to both the needs of families to try to keep costs under control and yet also the need to address the cost increases in the different areas, benefits, utilities and technology," Manning said.

The average cost of tuition is now $29,506 dollars a year at a Minnesota private liberal arts college. Manning said because of federal, state and college aid, the average price a student pays is about half that amount.

Both the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Universities and Colleges systems will increase tuition by about 3 percent in the fall. The two public systems are using federal stimulus dollars to hold down the cost of tuition.