GRAPH EXERCISE.

• Position: Graph exercises comparing college costs and consumer price index - Brief Article

College Tuition Costs Keep Going and Going and Going ... Up

Everyone knows that college costs are rising. But how much and how quickly? One way to measure the rise is to compare it with the Consumer Price Index. This a measurement of the cost of living, or the cost of all basic goods and services--everything from food, shelter, and clothing to items like medical care and gasoline. This graph compares recent annual changes in the cost of living with changes in the average cost of tuition for in-state students at public four-year colleges. It does not include items such as dorm fees, food, and books. Note: Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics.

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1. Which year saw the smallest gap between the rise in the cost of living and the rise in in-state public-college tuition and fees?

2. The National Center for Education Statistics, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, reports that tuition and fees for in-state students at public four-year colleges averaged $2,035 in 1990. What was the dollar increase in these charges in 1991?

3. Which year saw the second highest gap between the...