Posted on 10/19/2005 11:44:51 AM PDT by texassizednightcrawler
Tuition at most universities in the United States continues to rise at an average of 7.1 percent, according to a recent College Board study.
While 7.1 percent does not sound like much and is, in fact, a smaller increase than others in recent years, such hikes are causing more and more college students to rely on loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized, in order to pay for their educations, according to the same survey.
The study did not include additional factors, such as books and room and board.
We are appalled by these statistics. Even as most students are told they must have a degree in order to compete for decent jobs, it is becoming more and more difficult for average people to afford to go to college. Those who obtain loans to pay for their schooling may be paying the price of an education for years after graduation.
While we respect the fact schools must raise tuition in order to offer students a quality education, we fail to understand how universities expect to retain students if those students can not even afford the tuition. It seems, in fact, many universities are actually providing a disservice to the thousands of people who rely on the hope of having a higher education will allow them access to a better life.
In countries such as Canada, Japan and Germany, school is often partially, if not mostly or even entirely, subsidized by the government. The education standards in these countries are usually on par with those in the U.S. The economies of those countries are comparable to the U.S.
And so our question is, how can they do it? How is it that the U.S., which is reportedly one of the stronger economies in the world, unable to offer an equivalent education to its citizens? Perhaps more importantly, why have we failed to demand the right to higher education for everyone, not just those who are gifted enough to win scholarships and anyone else who can afford the high cost of a degree?
College students know school means a lot of hard work and dedication. Most are willing to put in the effort and the time necessary to make the grade. Few, if any, are looking for a handout.
In America, we believe people should be able to change their station in life, regardless of where you come from or who you are. Higher tuitions are creating an elite class where the only people entitled to knowledge are the ones who can pay the price.
A degree is something that should be earned, not bought.
What a bunch of morons. If the government picks up the tab, then your average taxpayer is paying for the education of people who will go on to make more money than the average taxpayer. And I thought liberals were against taxing the poor and giving to the rich.
if you want the service (education/diploma), then you have to pay the price. whining about it is unseemly.
there are far too many people in college that aren't ready for higher education. they go because they dont' know what else to do. if raising tuition costs weeds these folks out, that would be a good thing.
Since the graduates reap the benifits of their education, they ought to be the ones paying for it, eh?
In Japan, the place where a future is made is in the secondary school. The college years are a picnic by comparison.
Public universities are at the mercy of the state for their funding. Funding priorities in my state are Medicare, prisons, and K-12, because these spendings are mandated. Higher education spending is nice for the state, but discretionary.
Public universities are not careful with money. At my alma mater, the new president brought in several *new* VP's at six-figure salaries (not to mention their staffs). On the other end, the service staff are union employees with generous pension plans. I know of one staffer at my alma mater who would sleep during the day and work OT at night, because the OT would increase his pension. In between, I have been told of people getting paid six months after contracts have expired.
Public universities have to follow a lot of the sometimes-stupid rules and policies in government. Private universities that receive public funding have to jump through these hoops, too.
Last, there is a lot of me-too-ism in public education. If West Iowa U gets a brand new ______ (student center, research center, staduim), then East Iowa U needs one too.
/rant
when i went for my mba, the cost wasd 450/credit. our t uition reimbursement was capped at 2k annually. i wanted the degree so i paid the costs meself.
In Germany, you take a standardized test then the government decides what level of education you can handle. They then give you a selection of categories in your tested classification and you choose from that. My cousin would never even have to opportunity to try advanced science classes in Germany. She's probably end up with a job as a janitor or a hairdresser.
Government money = government regulations and control. I'd rather pay and remain free to shape my own destiny.
When I lived in Germany, I remember being horrified by their system and my German friends were confused as to why this upset me. I felt like I was in Brave New World. "Oh, it's much better to be a Beta! Alphas have to work so hard! I love being a Beta!"
"While we respect the fact schools must raise tuition in order to offer students a quality education, we fail to understand how universities expect to retain students if those students can not even afford the tuition. "
Here is how tuition goes down. Get rid of every program that relates to cultural studies. If you are so interested in getting a degree in African basket weaving, buy a plane ticket, go to Ethiopia and spend a year. You will get a better education at a lesser cost.
With spelling like that, I say you got ripped off.
I agree with some people that there are a lot of worthless majors out there. Majors like mine, which is Graphic Design, get less of a priority than the stupid Women's Studies major does. Considering that most people go to college to get a better paying job these days (you HAVE to, because nearly everyone graduates with 5 digits worth of debt, even for an Associate's) I don't know why they even HAVE these degrees. Degrees like mine always get the shaft, I've also seen the nursing majors meeting in basements and the engineers making stuff out in the freezing cold because they don't have space in thier building. Education majors get more space, but the most spoiled majors of all are the English majors and the History majors, the Diversity majors and the Women's studies majors. They always have fancy buildings and plenty of space, while the rest of us get asbestos in the ceiling, falling apart computers, no parking, and our professors don't even get offices.
I also don't like some of the general education requirements, like the diversity requirement. It just seems to insult the average person, and the minorities in one foul swoop. At the Unversity of Utah, the diversity courses are known for being a joke, and students happily tell each other which courses are easy and which professors to avoid because said bad professors will fail you for the fact that you don't like Michael Moore.
As for education in Japan, I lived there for seven years. My dad was military. Japanese people place a big emphasis on high school. Elementary aged kids who act like Bart Simpson are rutinely reminded that they will get to pump gas at the service station if they don't shape up. I'm doubtful that Japanese kids have to take remedial math because thier Intermediate Algebra teacher was this liberal hippie chick who taught them to meditate instead of factor polynomials. I hate how our K-12 schools always convieniently neglect to teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. But they always teach you about pc talk and liberalism, with a minor scoop of conservatism on the side. Japanese kids don't get the politics as much as we do. They also don't have cheerleaders, football players, or yearbook editors. Most barely have soccer teams at thier schools.
I was absolutely SHOCKED at the amount of money she was offered to attend the first private school we visited. First the admissions officer offered her a flat 4k for her grades (which were not that great IMO) and then offered to set her up with the band director who could give her up to 6K and then told her if she could get her GPA up a hair, she could give her 2K more. This college costs 22k a year, but there we were with up to 12K on the table. Had she done a sport, she could have gotten up to an additional 12K. In other words, pretty much a full ride for an average student.
This was not an anomaly. This type of scenario played out over 3 more schools. She finally settled on a small Div 2 school in NC. Her room/board/tuition after scholarships will be a fraction of what we would pay to a public institution and her school has a 12-1 ratio with NO large lecture classes. All money is renewable for her entire 4 years.
So, yes tuition may be rising, but these privately endowed schools seem to have plenty of money and are giving it out freely.
My experience here on the Mid-Atlantic coast--yours may vary obviously.
In GA, we have the HOPE scholarship = tuition, fees and 150 dollars of books are paid for. Kinda nice.... just gotta attend public university and maintain a 3.0
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.