The cost of college keeps spiraling ever higher, right?Not necessarily. New research indicates students are paying significantly less to attend public universities than they were a decade ago. And tuition increases at private colleges have finally slowed after years of hefty rises.Figures compiled by the nonprofit College Board indicate the average student attending an in-state public university this year faces a tuition bill of $11,610, which is down 4% from a decade earlier when taking inflation into account. But the real savings come in what the average student actually pays after getting grants and financial aid. Thats down 40% over the decade, from $4,140 to $2,480 annually, according to the data.That reduced cost means less borrowing. Just under half of students attending in-state public universities are graduating with some debt, down from 59% a decade earlier, according to the College Board figures. And among those who do borrow, the average loan balance has fallen by 17%, to $27,100.Meanwhile, at private colleges, tuition continues to rise, but at a much slower rate. It has increased 4% over the past decade, when taking inflation into account, to an average $43,350, according to theCollege Board. Thats a big change from the two decades prior, when tuition increased 68%.Costs are coming down as Americans question whether college isworth the price. Surveys find that Americans areincreasingly skepticalabout the value of a degree, and the percentage of high school graduates heading to college has fallen to levels not seen in decades, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Yet research still finds that, over time, a degree pays off. Americans with a bachelors degree earn a median of $2.8 million during their careers, 75% more than if they had only a high school diploma, according toresearchfrom Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce.The COVID-19 pandemic has been a big factor in the cost reductions, said Jennifer Ma, an executive research scientist at the College Board and lead author of the study.We know that during COVID, a lot of institutions public and private froze tuition, Ma said.As states and the federal government responded to the pandemic, Ma said, they increased higher education funding, allowing colleges to reduce the cost of attendance. Some of that money has since expired, however, including an infusion of federal pandemic aid that was mostly used up by the end of 2022.Cost was a major consideration in Kai Mattinsons decision to attend Northern Arizona University. It would have cost her about $39,000 annually to attend the public university but discounts and scholarships bring that down to between $15,000 and $20,000 for the 22-year-old senior from Nevada.I originally wanted to go to the University of Arizona, but when it came down to tuition and other cost, Northern Arizona University was the best option, said Mattinson, a physical education major who also works as a long-term substitute at a local elementary school.Many institutions have tried to limit cost increases. Purdue University in Indiana, for example, has frozen its annual in-state tuition at $9,992 for the past 13 years.Mark Becker, the president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, said he was pleased to see the new data.Institutional efforts to control costs, combined with many states efforts to increase investments in public universities and federal investment in the Pell Grant, have increased college affordability and enabled significant progress on tackling student debt, Becker said in a statement.Costs for those attending public two-year community colleges have fallen even more, by 9% over the past decade, according to the College Board data, which is broadly in line with federal figures collected by the National Center for Education Statistics.Still, for parents paying for their children to attend out-of-state public universities or private colleges, the costs remain daunting as much as $95,000annually, in some cases. However, many institutions offer significant discounts to the sticker price for middle- and lower-income students.Some private colleges have been expanding their financial aid, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which in Novemberannouncedundergraduates with a family income below $200,000 would no longer need to pay any tuition at all starting in the fall.Other private colleges are discounting tuition as a marketing move in an increasingly difficult environment. They face adwindling poolof young adults, and students who are more wary of signing up for giant loans. Recruiting students is crucial for staying afloat as operational costs rise. After temporary relief thanks to federal money during the pandemic, many colleges have cut programs to try to keep costs under control.Nick Perry and Cheyanne Mumphrey, Associated PressAssociated Press writer Collin Binkley contributed to this report.

Meta is testing a feature that will let Facebook users browse eBay listings on Facebook Marketplace before being redirected to complete the purchase on eBay.The test, which is being launched to a small group in Germany, France, and the U.S. starting Wednesday, is an attempt to resolve charges by the European Union that the social media giant uses anticompetitive behavior. Antitrust enforcers argued that Meta illegally shut out competition by linking Marketplace to its social media network and advertises Marketplace to consumers regardless of opting in or not.Meta said it is still continuing to appeal the European Commissions decision. In November, it was fined $840 million over abusive practices meant to benefit Marketplace.While we disagree with and continue to appeal the European Commissions decision on Facebook Marketplace, we are working quickly and constructively to build a solution which addresses the points raised, Meta said in a statement.Ebay said in a blog post that a select number of listings from a variety of categories will start showing up on some users Marketplaces. That includes both local and shipped items. Shares of eBay were up on the news.This could benefit people using both platforms, Meta said. eBay sellers will gain exposure to Facebooks audience while people using Marketplace will be able to discover a broader array of listings from the eBay community.

Imagine if your Wi-Fi router or smoke detector could completely dissolve at the end of its life, not into waste, but into a source for new products. This is the transformative idea behind PAPE, a groundbreaking product family redefining how we think about small electronics.Crafted from densely pressed paper fibers and featuring a dissolvable, recyclable PCB board, PAPE doesnt just aim to reduce e-waste, it eliminates it entirely. This innovative design creates a closed material cycle, making PAPE devices both environmentally friendly and cost-effective.Designer:Franziska KerberThanks to significant advancements in sustainable PCB-board technology, the electronics industry has made strides in developing dissolution processes for recycling. PAPE takes this progress to the next level by extending the dissolution process to the entire product, not just the PCB board.Unlike traditional electronic devices that require mechanical deconstruction to separate components for recycling, PAPEs design ensures that every part of the product can be recovered in a single step. The result? A system thats more efficient, less wasteful, and remarkably user-friendly.By focusing on affordability without compromising innovation, PAPE transforms sustainability into something accessible for everyday users. Its dissolvable materials and simple return system make responsible disposal easy and intuitive.When youre done using a PAPE device, you disassemble it just as you received it using its intuitive, hinged design and drop it into a postbox. From there, the manufacturer dissolves the entire product, recovering materials for reuse. This process eliminates the hassle of sorting or specialized drop-off points, making it simple for users to be part of the solution.The beauty of PAPE lies in its holistic approach. Traditional small electronics rely on plastic housings and complex recycling methods that often fail to capture their full material value. These devices are prone to ending up in landfills or household trash, contributing to the 4.9 million tonnes of e-waste generated in Europe in 2020, much of which was never recycled.PAPE addresses this issue by aligning the lifespan of its materials with the lifespan of its technology. Its paper-based housing ensures that the structural elements dont outlive their usefulness, while the dissolvable PCB ensures that even the internal components are easy to recover. Together, these innovations create a product that is as kind to the planet as it is to the user.What makes PAPE truly remarkable is its ability to combine cutting-edge material science with everyday practicality. By eliminating the need for mechanical deconstruction, it simplifies recycling while recovering more materials. Its a true cradle-to-cradle solution for small electronics, a model for how the industry can transition to a circular economy.The simplicity of the dissolution process doesnt just make PAPE efficient; it makes it scalable. With the support of advancements in dissolvable PCBs and sustainable design, PAPE has the potential to revolutionize how electronics are made, used, and reborn.PAPE isnt just about creating better productsits about creating a better future. By rethinking how we approach e-waste and material recovery, PAPE sparks a vital conversation about sustainability in everyday life.As the team looks to partner with PCB manufacturers and showcase PAPEs potential through platforms like the James Dyson Award, the goal is clear: inspire change, foster innovation, and prove that sustainability doesnt have to be a compromise.PAPE challenges us to imagine a world where electronics never become waste. With its closed material cycle, user-friendly design, and pioneering dissolution process, it offers a vision of the future where every device serves as a stepping stone toward a more sustainable planet.The post These Electronics Are Made Out Of Paper And Can Be Dissolved After Use That Helping End E-Waste Forever first appeared on Yanko Design.

The entry price into a Mac just got cheaper with this upgraded closeout M2 Mac mini falling to $499 for a limited time only.Grab exclusive blowout savings on Apple's M2 Mac mini. Apple's Mac mini desktop computer is well regarded among budget-friendly consumers looking for an affordable entry point into the macOS ecosystem. And this week B&H is offering AppleInsider readers an exclusive discount on a closeout M2 spec* with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, bringing the price down to just $499.Buy for $499 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Some users are experiencing issues with Apple Cash as a result of an outage confirmed by Apple on Wednesday.Apple Cash is currently experiencing an outage.The company's System Status page indicates that there's an ongoing issue with Apple Cash, with users not being able to send or receive funds. Other Apple-branded services, such as the iOS App Store, iCloud, and Apple Pay appear to be functioning normally. The issue first occurred at 10:01 a.m. Eastern Time and is still unresolved at the time of writing.Users have already taken to social media to complain about Apple Cash not functioning. Apple Cash is a popular payment service, similar to CashApp, Venmo, and Zelle, but under the Apple umbrella. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The revised modernization plan for CBS Television City in the Fairfax district ofLos Angeles from Foster + Partners has been approved by the City Council and will now move towards the expected start construction of by 2028, the LA Times is reporting. RIOS is the projects master planner. Adamson Associates is also included on the design team. The project has been talked about in terms of its importance to the future of film industry locally despite concerns over traffic congestion.

The dangerous fire situation unfolding on the ground acrossLos Angeleshas captured the attention of Archinect as we try to keep on top of potential damage to homes, businesses, and historic structures in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Pasadena, which is also our home.What appears on track to be the greatest single natural disaster in terms of residential structures burned (at this hour the minimum number is being reported at around 1,000 by the LA Times) is, of course, going to affect much of the historic architecture that has granted the city its cultural identity in ways that are almost impossible to recount or recover.In the Palisades Fires crosshair are many Richard Neutra designs, including hisCase Study House #20 and Hees House from 1950. Several important Cliff May designs, the Eames House, and the beloved Getty Villa exist there as well. In Altadena/Pasadena, many quintessential Greene & Greenebuildingsincluding the Gamble Houseand the Huntington Library are ...

Odd Bug Studio has a new gameplay trailer for Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, emphasizing the Immortals and their shrines. By restoring the latter, players can harness Elementa, powerful elemental spells to turn the tables on various monstrosities. Check them out in action below alongside some of the more terrifying bosses.As outlined on Steam, there are four types of Elementa: Fire, Ice, Electric, and Poison. Fire can scorch enemies, and Ice temporarily halts them. Electric will stun threats, while Poison causes damage over time that spreads to nearby threats. Of course, discovering other shrines will further upgrade these Elementa, though in what ways remains to be seen.Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter launches on January 28th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The Standard Edition retails for $24.99, while the Deluxe Edition costs $29.99. The latter includes two DLC packs with armor sets, shields, axes, and cosmetic customization.

Just because a game looks promising in its pre-launch buildup doesnt mean things are actually going to shake out that way. Thats a lesson that weve learned on more than a few occasions over the years, with the list of games that have looked promising at first only to end up disappointing being a long one. Here, were going to talk about a few games that did just that.LAIRAn obvious pick for a list such as this one,Lairis forever going to hold the dubious crown of being one of the most bitter disappointments in gaming. Factor 5s excellent track record and promising pre-launch showings suggested thatLairwas going to be a huge early PS3 hit, but upon its release, the game turned out to be sort of a broken mess, thanks in large part to its frustrating motion-heavy controls. Even now, close to two decades later, its hard to get over the disappointment that wasLair.

After remastering and compiling the original trilogy of Tomb Raidertitles in the early months of 2024, Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics are set to come out with another similar collection in the form ofTomb Raider 4-6 Remastered.On top of enhancements and improvements akin to the previous remastered trilogy, this next one is also promising to build on those foundations with continued improvements based on feedback from the audience, while theres also no denying the unique appeal of the much darker and tonally different second trilogy ofTomb Raidertitles. To learn more about howTomb Raider 4-6 Remasteredaims to enhance all of that, we recently spoke with Matthew Ray, brand manager at Aspyr. You can read the full interview below."From the start, we always envisioned giving fans the complete classic Tomb Raider experience, encompassing all six of the original Core Design games. However, the overwhelmingly positive response to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered truly solidified our commitment to this vision."Was it always the plan to remaster Tomb Raider 4 to 6, or was it something that was only decided after the response to Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered?From the start, we always envisioned giving fans the complete classic Tomb Raider experience, encompassing all six of the original Core Design games. However, the overwhelmingly positive response to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered truly solidified our commitment to this vision. It was a powerful reminder of how much these games really mean to this passionate community, and it motivated us to bring that same level of care and passion to Lara Crofts darkest adventures.What are some of the most significant pieces of feedback for Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered from the community that youve taken into account for Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered?The communitys feedback on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was incredibly valuable. Photo Mode was a big highlight, with players asking for more creative toolswhich inspired us to include additional poses and outfits for Lara Croft in the new collection. Tons of players also expressed their appreciation for the graphic toggle feature, so weve obviously brought that feature back too. There are always ideas and improvements that can spark from community feedback, so we welcome it with open arms.What was your approach to enhancing and updating the visuals? What sort of a balance does the game strike between enhancing things and remaining true to the original look?Here at Aspyr we like to say Additions, not Revisions. Its all about respecting the original art direction while taking advantage of modern technology to elevate the experience. Every visual enhancementwhether its improved textures, refined lighting, or updated character modelsis designed to amplify the immersive atmosphere that Core Design originally envisioned. Environments like the Great Pyramid in The Last Revelation now have better textures and lighting which highlights their mystery and scale while retaining the iconic, foreboding tone."The communitys feedback on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was incredibly valuable. Photo Mode was a big highlight, with players asking for more creative toolswhich inspired us to include additional poses and outfits for Lara Croft in the new collection."Can you talk us through Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastereds most significant quality-of-life additions?Weve introduced several key enhancements to gameplay without compromising or taking away from the original games in any way. The addition of modern controls makes the game more accessible to players who are newer to the series, but weve also kept the classic tank controls for longtime fans. Weve included boss health bars (also toggleable), which help players strategize during tough encounters without taking away from the thrill of the challenge. Lastly, weve made the rare Times Exclusive level from The Last Revelation available to all players for the first time ever, giving everyone a chance to experience this unique chapter in Tomb Raider history. Theres plenty more to be excited about, but we wont spoil it all herepre-order today and find out yourself!With Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastereds Photo Mode set to feature new poses, could we perhaps expect those to be added into Tomb Raider 1-3 with an update at some point?This is a great question, and of course we know fans would love that! Right now though, our focus is on delivering the best possible experience for Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, but were always exploring ways to improve and expand on our previous releases.As a developer, what are your thoughts on the PS5 Pro? How does boost in GPU help in developing your game compared to the base PS5?The PS5 Pros enhanced GPU opens up exciting opportunities for all developers. It allows us to push for even greater visual fidelity, from crispier textures to even more dynamic lighting and shadow effects. This extra power also ensures smoother frame rates, even in visually intense scenes without compromising fidelity."Weve introduced several key enhancements to gameplay without compromising or taking away from the original games in any way. The addition of modern controls makes the game more accessible to players who are newer to the series, but weve also kept the classic tank controls for longtime fans."What resolution and frame rates will the game target on the Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PS5 Pro?On Xbox Series X and PS5, the game will target 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, delivering a visually stunning and smooth experience. On Xbox Series S, were aiming for 1440p at 60 FPS.