US flunks higher education affordability

I got into this discussion with Hobbitbob a few months ago.

I agree that elite private universities are hideously expensive, and out of the reach of most. State universities, especially if you live at home and commute, are quite reasonable. I checked the websites of Texas A&M, The University of Texas and The University of Arizona. All three had tuition and fees for an entire year for in-state students at $4,000 to $5,000. You can practically make that much in a summer job.

True, going to the local school while living at home, and working a summer job to pay for it might not be everybody's dream. But neither is it unaffordable.

Hobbitbob and I also disagreed about what percentage of students live within commuting distance of a public college. I guestimated 90%+. It wouldn't be too hard to pick a state, get the atlas out, mark on the map where the public colleges and universities are, and estimate the percentage using the list of populations given in the atlas. I admit I haven't done this, but I stand by my estimate of 90% plus.

I just ran the numbers for Texas A&M from here and you are close but... It came up to $4285. But that is per semester - not per school year. Double your number to roughly $9000/year and you'd hit the magic number for tuition and fees. Stack books and supplies on top of that and you are probably looking at $12,000 minimum for a year at A&M.

Huh?

I went to your link and found:

"Tuition and Required Fees

Tuition-Resident
In Fall 2004, resident students pay $122.50 per semester credit hour. Graduate students pay an additional $48.00 per semester credit hour. "

At 18 semester hours a semester, that works out to $2205 per semester, or $4405 per year (granted - this does not include books or other fees). I still believe this is not unreachable by working a summer job and by living at home. And especially obtainable if the parents help out a little.

Your original post said:



Right below that tuition number is the laundry list of mandatory fees that every student has to pay. Most are based on a "per semester hour" rate so I used the same 18 semester hours and it totaled up to $2080 in mandatory fees for a single semester.

$2205 + $2080 = $4285/semester x2 = $8570 + books and optional fees per school year.

A bargain at twice the price. Master Kung in the Analectics said, "Is not learning a pleasure".

For those who really thirst for learning there is always the option of being a phantom student. Attend all classes, do all assignments, but never, ever take an examination or hand in written work. Why? If you get above the horizon, you'll have to pay all those fees. In my experience professors turn a blind eye to phantoms, because they know that they are there solely for the education. The down side of being a phantom is no grades and no transcripts to prove you took the classes. In some classes where I was a phantom, I later paid the fees and challenged the course, took the tests and walked away in less than a week with my A's. Piece of cake if you're poor and still really want to learn. My guess is that for every course I'm accredited for there was at least one phantom course taken that I never got any official credit for. Since I got the knowledge, what do I care if I that I don't have a few more degrees?

I've done that, too, Asherman. When I started my own business, I "audited" (strange term for it, isn't it?) three semesters of classes in business and marketing. I didn't need the degrees...just the knowledge. I recommend it highly.

Study: U.S. lags in high school degrees

Other nations better in high school completion

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 Posted: 9:51 AM EDT (1351 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A growing number of nations are doing a better job than the United States in getting young people through high school and college, a study found.

Among adults ages 25 to 34, for example, the United States is 10th among other industrialized nations in the share of its population that has a high school degree. Eighty-seven percent of U.S. adults in that age group have at least a high school education.

Nations such as Korea, Norway, the Czech Republic and Japan have had faster growth in high school completion, and have passed the United States on the way up the rankings.

"As they close that competitive gap, they may close other competitive gaps that are a consequence of increased education," said Barry McGaw, director of education for the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The 30-nation group develops the yearly rankings as a means for industrialized nations to measure their education systems against those of their global peers. Although titled "Education at a Glance," the yearly report has ballooned into a 450-page compilation.

In the study, the older the population, the better the United States fares. It remains first in high-school completion among adults age 55-64 and 45-54, and fifth among adults age 35-44.

High school participation rates have not declined for the United States, but they have increased much faster in other countries, McGaw said. Korea, for example, ranks 24th among adults ages 55 and older but first among more recent high school students, ages 25 to 34.

"The one area you remain ahead is how much you spend," McGaw told U.S. reporters Monday. "They don't need to catch up with you on quality, because many of them are already ahead."

The report relies mostly on data from 2002 and 2001, although its achievement figures date to 2000. Organizers say those are the latest numbers available.

The United States has a higher share of its adult population ages 25 to 64 with at least a four-year college education -- 38 percent -- than any country other than Canada.

The United States also is second, this time behind Norway, in adults ages 25 to 34 who have gained such an education.

But in higher education, the United States is slipping, too, as other countries with traditionally lower college rates are closing the gap, the report says.

"If we are less competitive educationally, we will soon become less competitive economically," Education Secretary Rod Paige said. "That's just a cruel fact."

The high school findings come as President Bush, in a tight re-election race, has promised more spending and testing in later grades to ensure a high school diploma has value. His opponent, Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, has criticized Bush for failing to enforce the high school graduation provisions of his own education law.

Under the education overhaul of 2002, schools must show yearly progress for many historically disadvantaged groups, including minorities. No other country in the economic coalition has committed to measure achievement that way, a method designed to ensure schools do more to help underperforming children.

McGaw said it would probably take a generation to see the enormous educational improvement envisioned by the U.S. government. Paige disagreed, saying Bush's education law will lead to results over the next few years that will "significantly uplift our hopes."

" the enormous educational improvement envisioned by the U.S. government."
"Affordability of Higher Education"...Who could possibly oppose such glittering BAIT?
Proving once more that all that glitters is not gold...right AU?
Turns out this is the latest scam by the Federal Govt. to totally usurp control of all States Higher Education by 2011.
How? By taking away control of Federal Grant money of colleges and universities who "fail" thier idiotic concocted performance test...concocted for failure no matter what.
But wait! Who goes there? Who is this "bag man" who dragged this stinking mess in to our midst?
Can it be? Hello AU1929! Old Friend.

" the enormous educational improvement envisioned by the U.S. government."
"Affordability of Higher Education"...Who could possibly oppose such glittering BAIT?
Proving once more that all that glitters is not gold...right AU?
Turns out this is the latest scam by the Federal Govt. to totally usurp control of all States Higher Education by 2011.
How? By taking away control of Federal Grant money of colleges and universities who "fail" thier idiotic concocted performance test...concocted for failure no matter what.
But wait! Who goes there? Who is this "bag man" who dragged this stinking mess in to our midst?
Can it be? Hello AU1929! Old Friend.

I am not your friend old or new. If you are unable to be civil do not address me in the future. This is not the Abuzz.