Financial consultants promote 529s for estate planning.(tuition savings plans)

As another high school senior class stands poised to graduate this year, parents nationwide are steeling themselves for yet another round of inflated college tuition rates.

A recent report by the New York-based non-profit The College Board reveals that costs are likely to only go up. For the 2003-04 academic year, the average tuition and fees for in-state students at public four-year colleges and universities is $4,694, up $579 from $4,115 in 2002-03, an increase of 14.1%, the survey shows. Because room and board charges increased at the lower rate of 6.6%, the increase