Will a Tuition Increase Keep You From Earning an Education?
December 15, 2009 | ama83
As if the economy could not get any worse, do not be surprised if you see an increase in your college tuition this coming spring semester. There have been rumors and even protests on the subject, but the truth of the matter is that if the schools are struggling with money, then they have to find a way to make more of it and the students are going to get hit up for it.
Obviously, it is the state of the economy that is starting all of these problems; however, most of us find a way of blaming others as a way of dealing with our frustration. College students have been trained to think analytically, so it should not surprise anyone to hear when students are uprising on campus. You can count on students to make their voices heard when there is a big change in a school’s policy – particularly their fees .
Recently, there was an uproar at the UC Davis campus because outraged students were protesting the 32% increase in tuition (read CNN’s article here). It’s not the first time that students have made scenes over their tuition boost. Several years ago, San Jose State dealt with student rallies going on in the center of campus, mocking the school authorities because there was the possibility of raising the price of school units.
A raise in tuition can be even more upsetting for those who go to a junior college because a two-year institution is supposed to be cheaper. Raising the price of units by at least $6 each can begin to put a dent in the working students’ budget. Evergreen Valley College is in the position where it is being forced to raise tuition from $20 to $26 a unit. At roughly 3 units a class with a full-time schedule of 4 classes, that’s a large increase for the average student who is looking for a cheaper education. Of course, the unit fees are not the only part of a student’s bill that comes into play, so you can probably count on the association, health, and union fees rising, as well.
Luckily, financial aid is still available for the students who need it. I realize there are some who feel embarrassed about asking for aid, but, considering the current times, this is not a situation that should allow a person to put their pride ahead of their education. An education is your best bet on improving your situation, as well as everyone else’s in the country.
The job competition is fierce out there, so having a degree in your vocation can boost your abilities in finding a job and/or possibly being promoted from your current position. This is why President Obama has been encouraging people to go back to school, particularly moms (we’ve all seen the advertisements online).
There is a chain of development: a better education can earn a better job, and a better job can earn more money, which can be spent into the economy to boost the situation for everyone. But it is the negative ripple effect that all of us should be avoiding: People can’t find jobs because of a lack of education and they can’t go to school to remedy the problem because they cannot afford schooling.
The rise in tuition is that much more devastating when I think of the students who will not be registering for classes next semester. The classrooms had all shrunk this fall semester. Do not let the increased tuition deter you from your own education. Look into financial aid and grants. If anyone else out there has any other suggestions as to how to deal with the costs of schooling, I’m sure we would all very much appreciate an alternative to taking out school loans. As for my own contribution, you can expect some postings on saving money for school supplies in an upcoming blog.
Having a son in college, I did notice an increase in tuition. Ouch! Thank goodness this is his final semester.