Geez, it sounds like some of you think that colleges are in the business of raising tuition for the sake of raising tuition and trying to keep out the middle class. I work in higher ed, and I am keenly aware of the costs involved in running the very small school where I work. Tuition does not come close to covering costs. Endowed funds and other fundraising are essential to providing the funds necessary to pay salaries and benefits, maintain buildings, maintain the spaces around the buildings, pay bills such as gas, electric, insurance … etc., etc., etc. We have a staff so lean we work far more than a normal work week … and we earn less than what businesses pay employees who have less responsibility overall and work fewer hours. Yet we are committed to trying to build a diverse class of students - regardless of what they can or will pay. It’s really, really difficult.