George Washington University junior Ben Silverstein says he works 25 to 30 hours per week during the school year, plus a full-time job and overtime during the summer — all to pay the cost of his own education after receiving outside financial aid.

He has watched GW’s “sticker price” inch past $58,000 for the coming academic year — though it won’t affect his tuition because the university locks in students’ tuition costs, scholarships and aid for up to five years of study.