Analysis: Tuition rose faster when lawmakers set prices

DALLAS (AP) — While a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers says college students would get a better deal if politicians set tuition and fees, a newspaper analysis shows that costs rose faster at most public colleges and universities in the state when lawmakers set the prices.

The Dallas Morning News (http://bit.ly/1Xpic23 ) reports its analysis of average undergraduate tuition and fees over the last quarter-century run counter to much of the narrative from Austin politicians, who cite increases since four-year public university administrators started deciding 13 years ago.

The trends — and how lawmakers choose to look at them — will be a crucial factor in a looming showdown over whether the Legislature should take tuition-setting power from university officials.

Staunch conservatives such as Patrick and his Senate leaders want to control costs but offer no indication of wanting to invest significant state money.

"Some of our most liberal members as well as some of our most conservative members want to either cap tuition or take control of it back at the legislative level," said Patrick, whose chamber is leading the discussion.