The rising cost of attending college is addressed in a staff summary of hearings held in 1987 by the House of Representatives. The report is endorsed by Augustus F. Hawkins, Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor. Witnesses included higher education researchers, college presidents, and students. The difference between cost and price in higher education is addressed, along with reasons that college costs are rising faster than inflation. Data are provided on the national average cost of college: mean tuition/fees and total budgets for resident students living in institutional housing for 1964-1988 for public and private two-year and four-year institutions and for proprietary schools. Information is also provided on the contribution of state and local governments to public and private institutions. Changes in the Higher Education Price Index between 1960 and 1986 are documented. A majority of witnesses testified that the greatest factor affecting tuition increases reflected changes in student financial assistance policies at the federal, state, and institutional level. Many of the witnesses expressed concern for the impact higher tuition rates will have on students from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds. The testimony indicated that decisions by colleges to increase tuition appear to be in response to rising costs of operating the college. (SW)