Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The cost of attending public colleges rose significantly this fall with tuition at four-year universities rising 8.3 percent to $8,244, the College Board reported Wednesday.

In 2011, the price of studying and living on campus at the average public university rose 5.4 percent for in-state students, or about $1,100, to $21,447.

Many campuses had increases that were dramatically higher. For instance, California State University-San Marcos posted the highest percentage increase in the United States . The school raised its tuition and fees by 31 percent for the 2011-12 academic year to $6,596, Collededata.com reports.

The University of New Hampshire hiked its tuition 11.5 percent to $15,250, making it the most expensive public college system in the U.S.

The cost of attending a typical private college also increased by 4.3 percent to $42,224.

Tuition at community colleges, still considered a bargain, jumped 8.7 percent, to about $3,000 a year for full-time students.

The increases are in part due to recent cuts in federal grants and tax benefits

Fewer than 12 percent of private college students pay those school’s high tuition prices. A full 88 percent of freshman at private universities received scholarships to reduce their costs, according to a recent survey by the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

On average, private college students receive $15,530 in scholarships and federal tax benefits, cutting their average net cost to $26,700, according to the College Board.

Less than half of all public university students shell out the full tuition price to attend, according to federal studies. At least 52 percent of all students at public four-year universities receive scholarships or grants.

Beginning Oct. 29, all colleges are required to post a “net price calculator” on their websites that will help students and their families figure out how much freshman year will most likely cost.

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