Another reason why colleges and universities are losing the trust of the public: They refuse to call a thing what it is, such as when they throw additional costs at students and their families and call it a “fee” rather than a “tuition increase.” Politicians do this, too, when they jack up the price of drivers licenses and don’t call it a new tax. But judging from this NYT story, universities have turned the practice into an art form:

At just over half the nation’s four-year public colleges, fees rose faster than tuition in the 2005-6 school year and the previous year, according to the College Board, which tracks trends in college costs. Over all, in 2005-6 — the most current year for which there is available data — fees rose by an average of 8 percent to 11 percent at public four-year institutions, well above the rate of inflation.

A colorful example, from the University of Oregon:

This year, for instance, the university is charging a $51 “energy surcharge” for rising electricity costs. A $270 “technology fee” for computer service. There is the $371.25 fee for the campus health center, a $135 fee to maintain buildings and grounds and a $624 “incidental fee,” for student activities. And more.
All told, fees add up to $1,542, or nearly an additional 40 percent on top of tuition of $3,984. That does not even count additional fees charged for taking certain courses.