Associated Press

The increase in tuition and fees at public universities in South Dakota was slightly higher than the increase nationwide.

Tuition and fees at four-year public colleges nationally rose $344, or 6.3 percent, to an average of $5,836, according to the College Board’s annual Trends in College Pricing report.

Accounting for inflation, the increase was just 2.4 percent, the lowest in six years.

In South Dakota, the rate climbed 7 percent at public universities, from $4,628 to $4,940.

Dean Krogman, secretary for the South Dakota Board of Regents, said the cost of higher education in South Dakota remains a good deal when compared with surrounding states, which have seen double-digit percentage increases in tuition and fees in recent years.

With the number of graduating in-state high school seniors dropping, South Dakota colleges and universities have struggled to recruit. Tuition that is low relative to the region has helped, but Krogman said the student share of the cost still is too high.

“We think the state should pay more,” he said.

Published prices are up 35 percent over the past five years – the largest such increase since the College Board began keeping data in the 1970s.