Viewpoint: Is the cost of providing college education increasing?

While regents at the University of Minnesota plan to consolidate to curtail costs and direct the vision toward becoming one of the top three public research universities, it raises the question, is the cost of providing college education increasing?

According to President Bradshaw, it is. In 2000, two-thirds of Metropolitan State’s operating budget came from the state appropriation; this upcoming year that number will be more like 45-47 percent. “There’s been a shift in Minnesota in the funding of higher education,” says President Bradshaw. “Costs are going up, but the state participation in covering that cost is going down.” So tuition goes up at an unacceptable rate. While the cost is going up, more of the cost is being borne by the students and their parents.

Institutions are struggling not only because their funding is being cut at the state level, but also because competition that promotes quality at universities is also driving up costs like faculty salaries. Institutions of higher learning also suffer the same financial plagues as other organizations: increased physical maintenance and energy costs, and dramatically increased costs of providing healthcare for employees.

Joe Haynes: Outside of national and international affairs, such as foreign conflict, the environment, or world economics, there is no topic more important, conflicting, and directly related to students lives than the cost of their education. Aside from the windfall and accolades that potentially come with a college degree, there is choice and consequence associated with attending college, just as there is with any other choice.

...Rising college costs: Opportunity cost or sound investment?

Nancy Yang:Tuition increases have exceeded inflation for at least four decades, including times when state funding and private support were increasing. Part of the reason is that running a college is labor intensive. More students mean that more teachers are needed. More teachers mean more salaries need to be paid. Having better technology doesn’t make a difference because teaching is a personal service. Most people would agree that increasing class sizes is not a good option.

As the economy grows and more people want to get degrees, rising tuition costs will be a fact of life.

...High tuition: government is a source and a solution

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