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View Full Version : College prices up again even as economy falters



LiberalNation
10-29-2008, 12:33 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081029/ap_on_re_us/college_costs;_ylt=Ap_tzqgzkEimDHtHkbJWNNZvzwcF

Amid the economic turmoil, students and their families are getting little relief from rising college costs, which jumped 6.4 percent at state universities this fall, according to new figures out Wednesday.

And with states aggressively cutting budgets, big increases look almost certain next year, too — if not sooner. At least two states — Rhode Island and Michigan — already have taken steps toward raising prices before next fall, and a half-dozen others are reportedly considering unusual midyear increases.

For the current academic year, the average list price of tuition and fees at four-year public universities rose $394, or 6.4 percent, to $6,585 for in-state students. At private colleges, prices rose $1,399, or 5.9 percent, to $25,143, according to the annual "Trends in College Pricing" report from the College Board.

It's important to remember many students don't pay the full list price. On average, students receive about $3,700 in grants and tax benefits at four-year public schools, and $10,200 at private institutions.

When room and board is added in, some high-tuition private institutions can total $50,000 a year or more. Overall, though, more than half of four-year college students attend institutions where the list price for tuition and fees is under $9,000.

Still, while spending on financial aid is increasing, it hasn't kept up with price increases.

The report emphasized that, accounting for overall inflation, prices rose less than 1 percent this year, and actually declined at public two-year colleges. But that's only because overall inflation was unusually high — about 5.6 percent.

"No one really thinks it's easier to pay for college just because other prices have gone up," said Sandy Baum, economics professor at Skidmore College and senior policy analyst at the College Board. While families may postpone other big-ticket items, "It's harder to wait to go to college than to wait to buy a car," she said.

Public two-year colleges once again were the biggest bargain — and did the best job holding down prices. Average list prices there rose $108, or 4.7 percent, to $2,402. But factoring in financial aid, the College Board estimates the average net cost is only about $100.

stephanie
10-29-2008, 12:35 PM
vote for the little Marxist, he'll GIVE YOU a college education for nothing..:cheers2:

Trigg
10-29-2008, 12:39 PM
College hasn't been affordable to middle class families in quite a long while.

Everyone is always worried about the "poor", so they get the gov. grants and the college scholarships.

Meanwhile the middle class family making $50 grand with two kids is screwed.

Abbey Marie
10-29-2008, 12:39 PM
If I hear one more piece of bad news, I am going to need a Valium drip.

(Yes, our daughter starts college next Fall)

LiberalNation
10-29-2008, 12:41 PM
Meanwhile the middle class family making $50 grand with two kids is screwed.
I know, I didn't qualify for any grants or even subsidized loans. All will be paid out of pocket which was like $4000 this semester just in tuition. Glad my family can afford it, I couldn't on my own without huge debts when I graduated.

Trigg
10-29-2008, 12:41 PM
If I hear one more piece of bad news, I am going to need a Valium drip.

(Yes, our daughter starts college next Fall)

My oldest is a Sophomore this year, lord only knows how I'm going to afford his school.

Silver
10-29-2008, 12:42 PM
They are already the left wing havens of radical socialist propaganda and we have to pay them to turn our children against us....?
It's enough to fuckin' blow your mind...

Yurt
10-29-2008, 12:45 PM
what pisses me off is that many of these public schools have tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars endowments...

Nukeman
10-29-2008, 12:45 PM
My oldest is a Sophomore this year, lord only knows how I'm going to afford his school.
I think you should make him look into the military academys.....:laugh2:

Trigg
10-29-2008, 12:45 PM
I know, I didn't qualify for any grants or even subsidized loans. All we'll be paid out of pocket which was like $4000 this semester just in tuition. Glad my family can afford it, I couldn't on my own without huge debts when I graduated.

I hate to even think about it.

We've already told our son that he's going to have to work and contribute money for his schooling and go local, since we definitely won't qualify for grants. I don't want him to graduate with hefty student loans.

manu1959
10-29-2008, 01:34 PM
I hate to even think about it.

We've already told our son that he's going to have to work and contribute money for his schooling and go local, since we definitely won't qualify for grants. I don't want him to graduate with hefty student loans.

i worked ...took out loans....scrimped and saved....could not afford the big name universities that i applied to and was accepted...harvard usc mit....ended going to an in state university....it all works out....

avatar4321
10-29-2008, 03:06 PM
what a surprise. Paying more and more for less and less.