The university tuition dilemma

By Michael Fraase

Thursday, 04 December 2008 08:00PM CST

Section: Sustainability

TuitionThe most recent biennial report, “Measuring Up 2008,” from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education finds that total college costs (tuition, fees, room and board, minus financial aid) increased a whopping 439% from 1982-2007. Meanwhile, median family income rose only 147%. College students have been forced to borrow twice as much over the last ten years and poor students get smaller grants than students who are more well off.

According to Patrick Callan, president of the center, the American middle class has been financing their kids’ education through debt. “The scenario has been that families that have a history of sending kids to college will do whatever it takes,” Callan tells the New York Times. “Even if that means a huge amount of debt.”

Last year, net college costs at a public university accounted for 28% of the median family income. Net costs at a private university were predictably higher: 76% of the median family income. Meanwhile most universities are talking about even more tuition increases. Clearly, this is unsustainable.

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