It’s a good thing so many schools are offering in-state tuition to non-residents, isn’t it? That couldn’t possibly be a contributing factor.

Douglas Belkin of The Wall Street Journal reports.

Tuition Rises Fastest for In-State College Students

Tuition at four-year state schools increased at a faster rate for in-state students than their out-of-state classmates in the past three years, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education.

The report highlights the tricky balancing act public schools faced as they grappled with significant cuts state legislators made to their budgets during the recession.

Between the 2010-11 and 2012-13 academic years, the average tuition and fees for full-time, first-year, degree-seeking undergraduates at four-year state schools increased 6.7% to $7,526. Out-of-state students saw their tuition and fees increase 4.1% to $17,404.

Paul Lingenfelter, president of the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, said the steeper rate of increase for in-state students reflects the price sensitivity of out-of-state students. “There’s going to be more competition for those students,” he said.

“Out-of-state tuitions are already pretty high,” said Jack Buckley, commissioner of the National Center for Higher Education Statistics. “There’s only so much more a school can raise its out-of-state tuition and fees.”

The increases reflect a five-year decline in state spending on public colleges and universities. But the national uptick in public-school tuition will likely slow down—or even level off—over the next several years, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of several websites that specialize in student financial aid.

“In the past, it was always a feast-or-famine cycle. During an economic downturn, support for postsecondary education gets cut, which drives up tuition,” Mr. Kantrowitz said. “That’s usually followed by a period of no increases or very slight increases.”

Tax revenue rose last year in 47 states, according to the Census Bureau. That, in turn, has led to tuition freezes at some schools in several states, including Minnesota, Iowa and Ohio.

This year, lawmakers in Indiana, New Hampshire and Florida moved to increase their higher-education budgets.