Report: N.J. third-highest in-state tuition costs

The cost of higher education continues to grow.

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, an increase of nearly 5 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.

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

Report co-author Sandy Baum says higher education is devouring an ever-increasing share of family income, but the numbers could also signal that unsustainable trends in costs, borrowing and aid are at last beginning to break.