Highest Public College And University Tuition In 2011-12: Department Of Education Data

The U.S. Department of Education released new data Thursday for its College Affordability and Transparency Lists of which institutions, public and private, have the highest tuition prices.

The average in-state tuition at public four-year colleges and universities hit $8,256 in 2011-12, according to the College Board, but many schools charge students much more.

Tuition has grown at public universities in response to declining financial support from state appropriations, a New York Federal Reserve study concluded, with support falling by 21 percent from 2000 to 2010.

The growth in public college tuition is particularly of concern because state-backed universities traditionally follow a low cost-low aid model, where students pay a much lower tuition than at private schools but generally receive less financial aid.

Check out the slideshow below for the schools with the highest in-state tuition prices for the 2011-12 year, the latest year available from the Education Department: