What's Happening With Tuition At State Schools?

I quickly perused the news over the past 3-4 days to see what I could discern.  I found many examples of mid-high single digits increases.  Why?  Declining state support. 

• At Idaho State University, tuition will increase by 9.0%:  "Idaho State University had asked the board for a 9.9% increase but the board after one substitute motion reduce that amount to 9.0% for a total of $5,416 dollars per semester for a full time in-state student.

• University of Utah students will see tuition rise 9.5%:  "The State Board of Regents has increased tuition for public colleges and universities for the second year in a row. For University of Utah students, this amounts to an additional $471 per year, or 9.5 percent. Rachel Rizzo, Vice President of Associated Students of the University of Utah, says the increase is difficult for many students, especially because of the school’s unique demographics.

• UConn has approved a 6% increase:  "The university has approved an increase of almost 6 percent in tuition, room and board for the next academic year."

• New Mexico State University students will see 8% increase in 2010-11:  "The New Mexico State University Board of Regents approved an approximate $600 increase in yearly student costs at a special budget meeting Thursday.  The tuition increase will take effect next year, and came as a result of cuts in state funding.   “We live in a world with a weird and unfortunate state funding formula and that forces universities to raise tuition,” Regent Javier Gonzales said."

• James Madison University tuition to rise 6.7%:  " James Madison University is increasing its in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees by 6.7 percent for the upcoming school year.  Tuition and fees for Virginia residents living on campus will be $7,860 annually, up from $7,364, in a measure approved Friday by the Board of Visitors. The board noted it must make up for cuts in state funding.

• University of Wyoming will keep tuition flat in 2010-11 through use of stimulus funds:  "The UW board of trustees recently approved a 5 percent tuition increase and fees for each of the next two years, Buchanan told the councilors, and the university will offset next year’s increase for students by using stimulus funds to pay for that increase in tuition.  “The students won't realize an impact on tuition until the following year,” Buchanan said.

• Florida colleges could see an 8-15% increase:  "What happened: The House's plan includes an 8 percent tuition increase for state-university students, with each campus able to add another 7 percent hike.What's next: Senate plans are similar. Tuition is going up.

• Arkansas State is proposing a 4% increase:  "Ed Kremers, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, said the four percent increase will bring in-state students' tuition from $163 per credit hour to $170 per credit hour.  If the tuition increase is accepted, it will be imposed in July and will generate an estimated $1.3 million at ASUJ.  "Since we didn't have an increase last year, we don't expect to see a major impact on enrollment," Kremers said."

Comments

[Joan FB]

These increases are indicative of ongoing corporate abuse of American Citizens. Educational institutions are, in my opinion, changing for the worse. The institutions are becoming more corporate, more profit-focused, and less interested in the real meaning of education, and the bestowing of knowledge upon it's citizens for the betterment of American Society. We are seeing the effects of corporatization and power and control in every aspect of American life. To see it engulf the financial institutions to the extent of price gouging through tuition, overpriced books, overpriced meal-plans, (and I can go on).. is a total disgrace and a scam. It is totally entangled in the new American bureaucrazy --(changed the c to a z)-- and if not corrected, will be the wedge that creates a two-tier system of unprecedented proportion in the United States. A friend of ours is from Europe, and teaches in a University in this country. He takes away an Americans job, and has no student loans to repay because he went to school free in Europe. This is pathetic and unacceptable. The dumbing down of America has been and is successful!!!! But, it is compromising our freedoms, our ability to navigate with knowledge through the World of Diversity, and short-changing the Middle Class Americans dreams. Stats prove this out. For example, even when it comes to getting a job -- empirical data shows it is who you know, not what you know, that is more apt to land you that job.. unless you have a specific qualification, academic or technical, which you worked hard and went to college to attain. Remember George Bush??? well he had two college degrees, neither of them paid for by him, but paid for by his father's wealth.. wow, wouldn't that be nice for the average American. One would think he and others in our government would want the hard working, diligent American citizen to have the breaks they did! Don't hold your breath America!!!! A two tier system is deliberately being created, so you better fight hard for change, or this will be your fate and the fate of your children. This economy is indicative of greed, manipulation by banks and lending institutions whose lobbyists are powerful -- so powerful that they even watered down Obama's public option -- and "We the people" has come to mean "Only We the Powerful who control" ... God help us all.

[Ron Tough]

You're still blaming President Bush for your problems? My goodness, move on with your life.

FYI - Obama tacked student loans 'reform' onto the health care bill so now the government is the only lender in town. College will cost whatever the government decides it will cost. And it will be expensive, don't you worry about that. The government wants to keep its population in debt, forever, and it expects you to vote for the big (D) every two years for the privileged.

[Joan FB]

Dear Ron, sorry you misconstrued my statements. I am not blaming President Bush for my problems... I was discussing the fate of our country if we don't honor the value of an education for all the people who want it at a reasonable price. Just pointed out that many, like Mr. Bush, who have access to changing the laws and the power to institute change, don't seem to care to do so, and that maybe it was because they don't pay for their education like the average American does. And, yes, the government is involved in the cost of a college education, exactly correct!! I don't think they should be, nor do I think that the government should continue to be involved with the lenders as the middlemen, (which has been the case up until this months recent, minor -- and I stress -- minor reforms). I think you and I as Americans may actually agree on what I was trying to point out, that our government representatives, irrespective of party lines, should have at the top of their agenda the overall health of our citizens and in turn this Nation. We have a two party system that feuds over legislation that meets the needs of powerful lobbyists, like lending institutions, (let us not forget WallStreet)!!..and most Americans are left out of this "select" loop. Facts are facts, and blame is a game. The facts are that most Americans have no one to lobby for them... that is why they are losing their homes, their jobs, and their opportunities to a reasonable cost education.. while the big guys get a bailout and a slap on the wrist, and go buy another home in another country on an Island. Facts are facts. Twist and contort words as you like, the proof is in this sad economy... and both parties have been selling out the American People as they pad the pockets of lobbyists and special intersts with perks and pork. I certainly hope most Americans see through the political arena that exists today.

[Craigie]

This sounds a bit like that retiree who told her senator to make sure to keep his hands off her social security; she didn't want Washington to make social security into "some government program." No matter which method the government chooses to deliver the federal student loans, they are still federal student loans. It is still a "Big Government" program, whether contractors do the work or whether state lenders and guarantors are subsidized to do so.

Due to the huge share of the cost/risk borne by them, it would seem that it would be only a matter of time until the taxpayer/government would become very, very interested in colleges getting control of their costs (although colleges have been very successful to this point in warding off such efforts on cost controls). Private colleges, even the Ivys, don't like to admit the high percentage of their budgets that comes from federal agencies.
There is no law preventing someone from issuing private education loans outside the umbrella of the Educ Dept.
FYI - Major student loan legislation is commonly tacked onto omnibus reconciliation bills. There was no complaint when the Repubs did so in 2005. People who are blaming Obama for everything need to move on with their lives.

[Joan FB]

Having worked many years in healthcare and education, I can share that "waste" in our country, in many systems and processes from government run agencies to educational institutions is substantial. This waste and inefficiency in many processes that Americans deal with every day, i.e., motorvehicle departments, Health and Human Services, Schools, and lets not forget our Tax Codes and systems, have significant waste in the process itself. This issue has nothing to do with party politics -- it is simply wasteful spending and processes, which we the tax payors end up funding, be it education or anything else. Waste is being addressed significantly by the current administration, which was demonstrated by some of the attention to the middle-man cuts for student loans and lending practices, though be it imperfect. There are many people who are on disability who shouldn't be ( we all know one of them).. and those who really need public funds get less because of those who shouldn't have them. Again, my point is that there is so much waste out there that cutting the waste, alone, would at the very least keep our taxes down. But, when you get into the waste it is a matter or perspective. The financial institutions who love being the middle man, like Sally Mae -- don't want to be cut out of the picture in student lending reform because their CEOs won't make millions!! Yes, cutting waste will cut jobs.. but, for example, if you don't have to pay outrageous fees and credit-hour-charges like 1,500/per credit hour to an institution for a courses, and education was very affordable -- or free -- then you could reskill and retool YOURSELF!! even if you lost your job. Wow, that would be a good idea!! But, as the situation is currently, if you can't find a job because you have no skills and costs to reskill are prohibitive, then you are stuck in a catch-22. All because there is so much waste in the system and some big CEO lender is reaping unnecessary financial rewards for overcharging for loans, be they housing, car or student loans. Costs need to come down!! For everything that can contribute to the progress of this Nation. Education, needs to be affordable or free, like Europe. Retraining needs to be available and affordable for ALL of us. Waste needs to be addressed, and the lobbyists need to be sent packing!! The hard working, middle class, can't bear much more of the tax burdens, and the only way one can is to have the salaries and the income and the opportunities to move forward. Obama -- at the very least -- is trying, despite the screams from those who probably don't even study the details. I am willing to bet that many people don't even understand why the educational reform was implemented in the healthcare bill, or even know it was. Americans need to become educated and it is a tough thing when you have families, and are raising kids in a complex world. I simply hope Americans will learn and research what is REALLY GOING ON IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM and realize that waste is everywhere, and that waste in the system needs to be addressed, and we don't need anymore wasteful spending, pork-barrel passage of bills by lobbyists who work for the 6% of the wealth of this nation. We have a tough climb as Americans to help fix this mess.