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Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

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Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#3
post #2

Despite starting by talking about "college tuition" in general, this article looks at public colleges only. It doesn't even try to explain the tuition increases at private colleges, which if anything have been larger.

75% of students attend public universities, so the case they cover is the modal case.

Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#4
post #2

Despite starting by talking about "college tuition" in general, this article looks at public colleges only. It doesn't even try to explain the tuition increases at private colleges, which if anything have been larger.

It would be interesting to see more information breaking down the increases there to compare to the causes at public universities. I saw an article the other day that stated that private colleges have also been increasing their financial aid or scholarships per student. Maybe that eliminates any of the difference in price changes between the two.

Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#6
The conclusions about financial aid are specious to me. Increases in Stafford Loan limits shuffle the deck chairs. Students and their families just borrow less from other sources, e.g. loans without subsidized interest deferrals. Never mind that treating loans as financial aid is somewhat dubious in the first place -- otherwise we would count credit cards we're the universities sitting in the application pipeline.

A similar dog wagging tail is equating the expansion of athletic staff as adding essential personnel. People who are not teaching or researching are administrative in a world where TV sport contract revenue is not a core university function.

Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#7
"public higher education in this country no longer exists."

I graduated from a SUNY school in 1992. My tuition was $675 per semester. Fees were minimal. Especially if you lived at home and commuted, or had an apartment. The minimum wage at the time was $3.35/hr. You could work all summer and pay for your tuition and books, and work a part-time job during the semester to pay for your living expenses. I paid for college myself (with help from merit scholarships) and graduated from college debt free. That's nearly impossible these days. I just looked, and my school now costs $4690/semester in tuition and fees. That's an increase of almost 7x.

We really need to increase public funding for education.

Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#8
post #7

"public higher education in this country no longer exists." I graduated from a SUNY school in 1992. My tuition was $675 per semester. Fees were minimal. Especially if you lived at home and commuted, or had an apartment. The minimum wage at the time was $3.35/hr. You could work all summer and pay for your tuition and books, and work a part-time job during the semester to pay for your living expenses. I paid for colleg…

Why the downvotes for this?

Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#9
post #7

"public higher education in this country no longer exists." I graduated from a SUNY school in 1992. My tuition was $675 per semester. Fees were minimal. Especially if you lived at home and commuted, or had an apartment. The minimum wage at the time was $3.35/hr. You could work all summer and pay for your tuition and books, and work a part-time job during the semester to pay for your living expenses. I paid for colleg…

Didn't downvote you, but I think your conclusion doesn't match your anecdote.

"We really need to increase public funding for education."

Shouldn't the conclusion be to lower costs and not increase funding if it's increased 7 fold in a short period?

Re: Myth and reality in the crisis of college affordability (2015)

#10
post #9
post #7

"public higher education in this country no longer exists." I graduated from a SUNY school in 1992. My tuition was $675 per semester. Fees were minimal. Especially if you lived at home and commuted, or had an apartment. The minimum wage at the time was $3.35/hr. You could work all summer and pay for your tuition and books, and work a part-time job during the semester to pay for your living expenses. I paid for colleg…

Didn't downvote you, but I think your conclusion doesn't match your anecdote. "We really need to increase public funding for education." Shouldn't the conclusion be to lower costs and not increase funding if it's increased 7 fold in a short period?

I agree. The universities shouldn't be wildly raising their tuition & fees annually.
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