College costs/prices

Amid economic downturn, colleges are taking a tough look at program viability and institutional priorities. There's still little consensus, however, about how best to decide which programs are essential.

Study finds that steep price and perceived unavailability of financial aid are the overwhelming reasons some college-qualified high school students don't enroll.

Citing economic downturn, Brown University loosens rules that barred students from registering for classes if they had outstanding debts.

Seldom have higher education officials lobbied so hard for something that may not be in their ultimate best interest, but these are strange days in California.

Community colleges and for-profit universities are seeing expected enrollment increases due to the down economy, but students are flocking to many four-year colleges this summer, too -- and finding friendlier aid policies at some institutions.

With a projected $700 million cut on the horizon, California's community colleges could increase tuition with no impact on most students, new report says.

In effort to fill empty seats, some community colleges in northern border states offer in-state tuition to Canadian residents.

With the financial crisis in full swing -- and no end in sight -- NACUBO attendees say they're having uncomfortable talks with donors, cutting benefits and trying to come up with creative cost cutting measures.

A growing number of companies are renting textbooks to college students, saying they're an alternative to sky-high price tags.

News abounds about bookstores and other providers (on ground and virtual): reunification at Barnes & Noble, infusion for Academos, expansion for free textbook initiative.