Report says college is too expensive
Filed under: College
In a report that is a study in obviousness for most families currently putting kids through college, a new report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education suggests that soaring college costs threaten to make college unaffordable for the majority of Americans.College tuition and fees rose 439% from 1982 to 2007 while the median family income rose just 147%, without adjusting for inflation.
What is to be done? In recent years, students and families have been financing college with debt, and the federal government has been making this possible with increased in various federal loan programs. The government is trying to help students but the reality is that they're making it worse. By offering ever-increasing amounts of debt to families all too willing to take it, our elected officials are eliminating the natural ceiling on price, allowing colleges to continue to manage their costs irresponsibly. There is no good reason that college costs should be rising so fast except that they can.
With the recession socking it to state aid for public colleges and hefty losses for endowments at private colleges, the college cost picture is about to get a lot worse.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-05-2008 @ 11:09AM
Lynette Manieri said...
What disturbs me is that we are becoming a society of the rich and famous. This is a pathetic comment on our so-called free society where everyone is considered "equal". The money rules is morally repungnant in a society that has substancial problems in economy, health care, and honesty. We need to get real in this country and start cleaning house from the bottom up and rearrange society as it was years ago.
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12-07-2008 @ 3:33PM
Donald said...
Most of Europe puts this country to shame as far as further education is concerned. Many European countries, especially those in Scandinavia, have free college access to all citizens who are wiling and able to go. Those countries which don't have free college, generally cost a lot less. There are 4 year universities over there which cost less per semester than a 2 year community college semester over here.
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12-09-2008 @ 1:31PM
Eric said...
Then move over there, otherwise realize the fact that college isn't for everyone.
12-05-2008 @ 11:42PM
Mark said...
Liberals stacking the deck with layers of administration. That is the reason for the rising cost of tuition. How are we supposed to teach students how to manage a business when the colleges can't balance their own budgets.
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12-07-2008 @ 1:47PM
S said...
Who cares? Since when did a college education become a RIGHT? It has ALWAYS been for those more privileged...and now it's just moving up a few more notches. Surely there will come a point where the high fees will outweigh the new student enrollments, and the rising costs will stop.
Better to be concerned with the poor quality of K-12 public education, than the "prohibitive" costs of higher education...
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12-09-2008 @ 5:09PM
Genavieve said...
This is madness! People who dont care about this situation are crazy, sure there are other things to worry about but this is one thing that most people overlook. Think of all the students that are trying to get in college and the government is just making things worse, there has to be something we can do!
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12-17-2008 @ 8:56PM
CollegeGear343 said...
College is too expensive they should make things more affordable for college students. Living in dorm rooms is expensive and students have to stock up on college gear which all add up.
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1-22-2009 @ 9:35AM
Darren A. Lossia said...
There was an interesting segment on ABC's 20/20 Friday, January 16th where this exact topic was covered. Trade schools may be an excellent option for young people starting out. Learning a skill you can sell can keep you out of massive debt throughout your adult life and can provide you with security. In other words, education pointed toward a goal, a hard skill may be far more useful and less costly than just getting a 4 year degree in _________ fill in the blank. Darren A. Lossia
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