THIS IS WHAT THE FREE MARKET FAIRY HAS WROUGHT

Tuition at Arizona's 3 state universities has skyrocketed:

Arizona board approves steep tuition hikes
by Anne Ryman - Apr. 8, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

For Arizona State University, the regents approved a 20 percent hike, to $9,716 a year, for incoming freshmen.

UA undergraduates will see a 22 percent increase in base tuition and fees but get a $750 financial-aid award, lowering the total increase for 2011-12 to 13 percent. The cost will be $9,285. If the rebate isn't renewed for 2012-13, tuition and fees will rise to at least $10,035.

NAU ended up with an 11 percent increase, to $8,474, for incoming freshmen next school year on the Flagstaff campus after a $350 rebate is factored in.

Since fiscal 2008, the Legislature has reduced funding to the university system by about $200 million, or about 18 percent, while enrollment has continued to grow.

At the same time, regents have raised university tuition. Since 2007-08, tuition and fees for incoming freshmen at Arizona's universities have increased by 58 to 64 percent, depending on the campus.