HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: Stealth Fees Driving Up The Cost Of College. “A new report by ProPublica shows that several schools around the country say they’re keeping down tuition costs. But at the same time, more and more fees are popping up on bills — and those might not be part of the official price tag that prospective students look at.” Sort of like getting around airline search engines by adding baggage fees while keeping ticket prices down.