The Economics of College: Part III (Thomas Sowell)

Townhall.com ^ | April 23, 2008 | Thomas Sowell

[PGR88]

The same also causes the proliferation of “new-age” studies, things like “gay and lesbian studies,” “women’s liberation studies,” “social work studies” etc.... There obviously is no shortage of resources if many of our colleges can sustain these fantasy, political indoctrination majors at $40,000 per year.

[MiltonFriedmanFan]

I'll still take Pepperdine

[MiltonFriedmanFan]

I'll still take Pepperdine

[MuttTheHoople]

Inflation of "Big college" has been 7.8% the past quarter century, in contrast with 2.5% for the rest of the American economy. The biggest reason for this:

Many jobs that really don't need a college degree (Policeman, fireman, news reporter, salesman, etc.) now require a BS just for entry level. "Big College" has effectively taken these out of the work place in order to get a monopoly on the best-paying jobs.

[CoastWatcher]

In addition to the abject waste is a carefully planned scheme to extract every-last nickle from every student. First they set an outrageous price (if you can pay it fine-most can’t). Next they offer financial aide (read discount). To get the discount they require your tax forms so they can negotiate with complete knowledge and squeeze out every last penny. If any other business did this they would be in jail.

[Aquinasfan]

Maddening. College is one of the biggest hoaxes ever perpetrated on the public, third only to public schooling and modern art.

[Aquinasfan]

To get the discount they require your tax forms so they can negotiate with complete knowledge and squeeze out every last penny. If any other business did this they would be in jail.

Of course. But look in the mirror America. This insanity wouldn't continue if Americans didn't bend over for it. As for me and my kids, I couldn't care less whether they go to college. I don't consider schooling and education the same thing. Considering the fact that my kids are homeschooled, they may never set foot in any kind of school. And that would be to their benefit.

[waverna]

“Many jobs that really don’t need a college degree (Policeman, fireman, news reporter, salesman, etc.) now require a BS just for entry level.’

That’s also because you can be borderline retarded and still graduate high school

[athelass]

We like to tease our boys by telling people we have one son in the Navy, two Marines, and one in college. Every family has a black sheep;) He’s majoring in becoming a liberal and losing his salvation. Seriously, he can’t stray too far from the fold cause his brothers will converge on him and kick his butt for him!

[jazusamo]

LOL! I think you’re probably right, he’ll be fine.

[SeekAndFind]

Grove City and Hillsdale Colleges are both great!

Both PRIVATE colleges REFUSE Federal Government aid and are thriving.

The interesting question to ask is this -- how does a school like Grove City College manage to be a top notch college ( attracting some of the best conservative professors and students in the country ) while charging tuition + board of less than $18,000 a year ( less than half what most private colleges and universities charge and competitive with tax payer subsidized state colleges ) ?

This is a model we can study and follow. The existence of colleges like these serves to destroy the notion that we need Federal government help for middle class kids to be able to afford college.

[RipSawyer]

That’s also because you can be borderline retarded and still graduate high school
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Probably true today but it shouldn’t be, it wasn’t that way fifty years ago. I have met a lot of college graduates who could not qualify for a high school diploma if they had to go back to 1960 and take exams.