Sentence Correction

According to a 1996 survey by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, more than
three times as many independent institutions of higher education charge tuition and fees of under $8,000 a
year than those that charge over $16,000.
A. than those that charge
B. than are charging
C. than to charge
D. as charge
E. as those charging

I prefer to 'spent my time on XXX' than to spentit on YY

I don't think thats the correct approach for this question

IMO E
As many as is the correct idiom. Those represent institutions.

Hope this helps!!