There's a huge gap between the sticker price and what the average student actually pays after figuring in grants and scholarships. Nationwide, the average sticker price is more than twice as high as the price students actually pay, and the gap is getting wider. It turns out, it makes economic sense to have a high sticker price and offer lots of discounts.
The In-State Tuition Break, Slowly Disappearing (NY Times)
Over the last decade, state governments and universities have been chipping away at a pillar of American opportunity: in-state tuition.