As if college tuition costs aren’t high enough, the DU Board of Trustees announced Jan. 29 that fees will be increased a yet-to-be disclosed amount for the 2010-2011 academic year. This, after:

• 4.9 percent increase 2009-2010
• 6.075 percent increase 2008-2009

Currently, the cost of attending DU is nearly $45,000 annually, which is staggering considering the average cost of attendance is $7,020 for public four year universities and $26,273 for private schools according to the College Board.

For some students, the increase will go unnoticed. But those who depend on financial aid are expressing everything from irritation to outrage. Understandably. The question is, “Why?”

After all, if DU is able to undertake numerous multi-million construction projects, shouldn’t it be able to keep tuition within reasonable limits, limits that do not rival the cost of an Ivy League school?

According to the U.S. News and World Report, DU ranks No. 84 among the best schools in the country. However, DU costs almost as much as Harvard ($52,000), Princeton ($50,620) and Yale ($50,550) which are in the top.

So, is a degree from DU worth the ghastly price tag? Some recent high school graduates or their parents more accurately, might be encouraged to take the public route because of this recent announcement.

Nevertheless, those that have already begun the road to a crimson cap and gown are forced to deal with it.

Even though it would be easy to point the finger at the supposed “elite” for disregarding the financial woes of the little people, the fact is that the price of higher education continues to rise nationally despite the economic downturn.

Forbes reports that university endowments fell by 23 percent from July to November 2008, meaning that despite appearances students and their families weren’t the only ones affected.

The good news is that there is more than $168 billion in financial aid available nationally that DU students can take advantage of—that is if they apply on time.