After several years in which inflation‑adjusted net tuition fell at many public institutions, The Hechinger Report documents a reversal: colleges are raising sticker prices, new fees and room‑and‑board costs this fall. The increases follow a period in which institutions had cut prices to bolster enrollments. Campus leaders cite budget pressures, enrollment declines and rising operating costs as reasons for the uptick. Students and student governments report sticker shock, especially where tuition had been frozen for multiple years. Why it matters: renewed tuition inflation will affect affordability, financial‑aid budgets and student completion strategies. Institutional leaders must balance revenue restoration against enrollment sensitivity and potential political scrutiny over college pricing.