Much has been said about increasing tuition at the U, but at least we’re not alone. According to a report by Newshour, 25 states’ colleges have seen tuition costs rise as much as 20 percent since 2003.
This trend has left many students wondering just how much their education is worth to them, and how much academic bang they’re getting for their buck.
The price of college is rising all over America. Our poor national economy has strained state budgets, lowering the available sum they contribute to public universities.
Even private colleges, isolated from state finances, have taken the liberty of raising tuition costs since students appear willing to pay.
Despite this national trend, students at the U are still getting a top-notch education for a comparatively cheap ticket price.
Though tuition has increased for U students in recent years, it’s still lower than many schools in our region.
For example, 12 credit hours this semester will cost an in-state U student $1,812 and a non-resident student $5,602.90. This is an increase of approximately 12 percent from last year.
At Weber State University, however, those same 12 hours will cost residents $2,573 and non-residents $9,008.
And then there’s the University of Colorado at Boulder, at which Coloradoans pay $3,183 for 12 credit hours and everyone else pays $10,950-more than double what we pay here at home.
OK, so the U is cheap-or at least, cheaper. Does a lower price mean lower quality?
Not in the case of our alma mater. Students across the country pay much more than we do for institutions of equal or lower quality.
For example, the U’s MBA program was ranked 36th in the nation in 2004 by the Financial Times.
The Biomedical engineering department is ranked 15th nationally. The department of modern dance has been ranked in the top 3 schools consistently for the past 20 years. And the U is in the top tier for schools with service learning courses.
Our programs are thanks to great teachers. University faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized for outstanding achievement.
While most could certainly teach at more expensive institutions, they choose to come here.
About 99 percent of our faculty members have obtained the highest degree in their subject area-and their achievements don’t stop with their own educations.
Take the political science department for example, in which several professors were honored for their work this past year.
Among them, Professor Chandran Kukathas was the senior recipient of the College Superior Research Award. Assistant Professors Mark Button and Claudio Holzner were awarded the Tanner Humanities Center Virgil C. Aldrich Research Fellowships. Assistant Professor Luke Garrott received the University Neighborhood Partners Community Scholar in Residence Award.
If you’re still shocked by the numbers after hearing all that, keep in mind that financial aid and scholarship funds have increased as well-now totaling more than $122 billion nationally, according to collegeboard.com.
In 2003, US News reported 33 percent of all U undergrads received need-based aid.
Plus, making the sacrifices to afford tuition now will pay off in the long term. Students who complete college with a bachelor’s degree make on average 70 percent more money than those who don’t, which can add up to more than a million dollars in the course of a lifetime.
Kinda makes the $1,812 you’ll likely pay in tuition this semester seem like pocket change, doesn’t it?