COLLEGE TUITION, NCLB AND BS IN ACTION

Public Supported Colleges Are Costly

Penn State University continues to be the most expensive public university in the US (USA Today, 08/31/06). Residents saw a 5.7 percent increase to $12,164 per year; that’s a 45 percent increase since 2002. Out-of-state students now pay $22,712 per year, representing a 29 percent increase since 2002.

Are you looking for a bargain among the listed 75 universities? Go to the University of Florida, Gainesville where in-state students pay $3206 and non-residents pay $17,790.

The US college in-state median is $5838, a 6.4 percent increase since last year and a 38 percent increase since 2002. Non-residents median is $16,245, a 33 percent increase since 2002. Financial aid increased nationally by 17 percent since 2002 or about $1000 more last year than 2002. In essence, the ability for most students to pay for college, even as state residents, is eroding.

An interesting side note: the University of Texas recently reported earning $8.2 million in licensing rights following its national football championship. An in-state student pays $7800 per year, a 9.6 percent increase since last year and a 54.8 percent increase since 2002. Out-of-state students will pay $16,920 per year, a 51.8 percent increase since 2002. Considering how much the athletic department is earning plus tuition increases coupled with one of the worst graduation rates among the top NCAA schools, what are the people in Texas paying for? An excellent semi-pro football team!

NCLB

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said on August 30, 2006, that the No Child Left Behind Act is close to perfect and needs little change. “I talk about No Child Left Behind like Ivory Soap: It’s 99.9% pure or something,” Spellings said. “There’s not much needed in the way of change.” (USA Today, 08/30/06)

It’s easy to imagine the responses of either cheering or jeering from each respective side of the debate!

BS in Action

Verizon and Bell South were going to impose a new surcharge fees on DSL Internet lines. Bell South initially petitioned the FCC that the fee was necessary to offset regulatory costs associated with DSL. There’s one problem with that argument: DSL is an unregulated service. Ooops!

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