UCLA Tuition Increase: Is it Time to Stop Whining?
November 27, 2009 | Todd G.
Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. has an editorial up at the Star-Telegram in which he talks about the recent student riots that erupted at UCLA. The students were protesting the massive increase in tuition that is a result of state of California’s budget crisis. For Ruben, these kids are just a bunch of crybabies. He recalls his own time in college when he had to work 20 hours a week. His father had to work 40 when he was going for his own degree. Although he mentions that the anger is understandable, as the tuition increase was a shock, he quotes a few of the students whose reactions seemed a bit over the top.
Ruben’s language may be harsh, but his overall message reminds me of the post I did about the state of public schools in California and the nation. The school defended the increases by assuring those students whose families make less than $70,000 that they will have their tuition covered. So who was rioting exactly? The wealthier kids? And are California taxpayers really subsidizing that many college educations? Seems like further proof that we need to fix the public college system and detach it from government bureaucracy.
I think everyone’s ridiculous in this scenario. The school is being ridiculous, and trying to fix serious problems by taking more money from students. The students are being ridiculous as if there aren’t countless other schools including public schools with tuitions much higher, and this guy with the editorial is ridiculous if he thinks he remotely understands the problems this generation is facing–that his job back in the day to pay for college is somehow equivalent to the out-of-control rise in education costs over the years.
Out-of-state tuition at UCLA this year was $50,000. That means it’s still several thousand dollars more expensive for one year of UCLA out of state than all four years for in-state. So they can all shut up, in my opinion.
Sorry, I was including room and board at res halls in that price. To be fair, UCLA out of state tuition is a little over $31,000. Which is still about 3x more than in-state.
Just visiting U of T. Tennessee public schools are facing cutbacks and a 7.4% projected increase in enrollment with a 5% increase in tuitions. Do they know more here than in California. Go Vols!