Higher education

[sailaway21]

College education costs continue to skyrocket, making the spot oil market seem a sea of tranquility by comparison. Why? Well, at least with oil and gas you've got some options. You can buy a smaller car, etc... What are you going to do, of a similar nature, about tuition costs?

Of all the things we're squawking about, you hardly hear a murmer about this issue. And at around 15% increase per annum we're not talking small potatoes either.

It's our fault to the extent that we believe that college is essential. I'm not going to argue that point. If you can find a good paying career without a college degree i'd encourage you to do so. But, I suspect, that for every one of those jobs, there are 99 jobs with similar pay where you need that four year degree.

As usual, I find the government at fault. This article explains the how and why of that pretty well. http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12710

The one thing I know for sure is that market forces are not being allowed to work in the tuition business and, if Teddy Roosevelt were alive, he'd be busting up some universities.

[bestfriend]

Some local fuel for your fire:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...cal&id=5945835

[bestfriend]

So what you're saying here is that if the students can pay it, the schools will charge it. And the students can pay it, because the government will loan it to them. The government getting in the way of the market. But, would banks step in if the government did not?

[camaraderie]

Hey Sway...if you think those #'s are bad...you oughta see 4 years of med school!!

[artbyjody]

Its because higher education has to be profitable... some things to keep in mind:

1. When a college gives out degrees to those that seek those higher in demand degrees or jobs similar but pay higher than average wages at entry level and beyond - the educational value is therefore deemed to be higher because the results allow those to enter at a higher level.

2. When the cost of living goes up - albeit fuel, housing, etc... colleges also compete on that market level. Hence why the UW in WA is seeking the same compensation package that the Sonics failed to get - figuring they are local and worth more because to live here requires more...

3. Most are state run and as a result very well tied into the political system as status determining reasons. If Harvard for example didn't cost as much would it be as elusive? No... (I have no idea if it is state run but the principles apply)... The difference can eloquently be related to two people dressed in the same attire, making the same money - but one drives a Honda Corolla and the other a BMW M3... who wouldn't pay more to go to a school that offers that ability to get a M3 over a coralla. Military recruitment for positions such as Nuclear engineer, special forces, pilot etc use the same principle...

So if the costs of living goes up - it is natural evolution that a college tuition will as well - beyond just the standard costs of education - but also the promise to deliver a better career outlook upon graduation...

[sailaway21]

bf nails it.

jody,
The increases are far and away above any cost of living or inflationary increases. The number I've heard is approximately 15% per year on average. Have you been getting an annual increase of 15% for your labors or do you know ANYBODY who has? Any business would be quite happy with that annual increase in revenues per unit sold, except they're lucky to keep up with inflation, mostly due to market competition forces.

Actually, most college grads, upon graduation, start out at a lower salary than they'd be making had they been exclusively in the work force the preceding 4 years. Some grads actually take a pay cut from the job they have during matriculation to enter their chosen field of work. It's down the road that their salary passes the non-college educated worker.

The converse of "if you tax it, you get less of it" is "if you subsidize it, you get more of it". We're not subsidizing college, we're subsidizing college expenses, a difference not without a distinction.

[RAGNAR]

zzz

[T37Chef]

Community College's...they actually teach you something, and at the bargain price of $90 a credit, well at least at Anne Arundel CC

http://www.aacc.edu/

[RAGNAR]

zzz

[T37Chef]

There is no question that Community Colleges could benefit from better $$ management, it amazes me how much is wasted.

That said, one of the core goals of a community college is opportunity for all, access to education. Most private training centers don't want or have the support initiatives in place to offer assistance to the less fortunate, learner disabilities, financial, etc.

An example...

"With learning as its central mission, Anne Arundel Community College strives to embody the basic convictions of the American democratic ideal: that individuals be given full opportunity to discover and develop their talents, energy and interests, to pursue their unique potentials and to achieve an intellectually, culturally and economically satisfying relationship with society. "

"Students enrolling in associate degree transfer or career programs, certificate career programs or participating in continuing education offerings can be assured that the college, as an accredited, public, comprehensive, open-admission institution of higher learning with affordable tuition, is, within the limits of its resources, vigorously committed to:

• Fostering excellence of teaching and learning for students, faculty and staff;
• Offering credit programs and continuing education courses in a variety of formats responsive to a multiplicity of community needs;
• Providing for learners at various preparation points, from pre-college to postgraduate, a range of integrated credentialing opportunities;
• Providing appropriate services in support of academic success and student development;
• Affording Anne Arundel County residents an opportunity to pursue higher education and lifelong learning;
• Providing a campus climate which invites the diversity of the community's population;
• Upholding rigorous and fair standards of student achievement;
• Promoting lifelong learning;
• Providing a source for intellectual, cultural and physical vitality in the community;
• Planning for efficient allocation of college resources and for institutional effectiveness;
• Maintaining a spirit of collegiality among the various sectors of the college; and
• Promoting county and state economic development by providing a variety of educational services and training programs to business and industry in both the private and not-for-profit sectors and to national, state and local government agencies."

http://www.aacc.edu/aboutaacc/vision.cfm