$6-$8k a year, including room and board...sounds like you're mistaken or haven't paid as close attention as you think. Back when I first went to my state school in 1999, you were right, but now, my school has jumped to $28k a year, in-state, for tuition + room and board. Source: http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg03_tmpl...

Also, I'm still paying off the loans from when I went back to school a five years ago. The jump in tuition after 10 years away from school was a major shock when I went back.