Report: PA ranks in top five in-state tuition costs

(Undated) --The cost of higher education is growing.

The College Board says the sticker price of in-state tuition at four-year public universities climbed an average of roughly $400 this fall to $8,655. That's an increase of nearly five percent.

The report largely blames state cuts for rising tuition. Add on room-and-board charges and the full cost for students living on campus rose nationally to $17,860.

Pennsylvania has the third-highest published in-state tuition charges, at more than $12,000 — behind New Jersey, Vermont and New Hampshire, which topped the list at more than $14,500. Wyoming was on the low end at less than $4,300.

Comparing states' flagship universities, Penn State's University Park campus also topped the list nationally with in-state tuition and fees totaling more than $17,200.