Has anyone else noticed that Princeton has raised tuition/fees for 2018/2019 approximately 5%?
Their endowment has grown considerably and this increase is greater than inflation.
I have written to the President Eisgruber weeks ago and have not received a response.
Don’t agree with this increase.
Most schools increase tuition on a regular basis, regardless of the state of their endowment. You may not agree with the increase, but that is the financial reality of higher education in America.
Have you also noticed that Princeton has increased its financial aid budget by 7.7% for 2018-19?
As katliamom pointed out, most schools increase their tuition and other fees each year. Still:
“For the 19th year in a row, Princeton will have the lowest fee package in the Ivy League.”
Depends on your perspective, if your a full pay (and some of us make just enough to be full pay) then each increase hurts.
So if you are full pay you will pay a 5% more. That allows for subsidizing lower income students without tapping the endowment too much.
…and that would be socialism…just calling it what it is, not necessarily for or against.
That’s not socialism.
Really…your subsidizing lower income students from those who are full pay, might want to look up the definition of socialism…
That’s not socialism, but it IS capitalism in American higher education 
And yes, fees increases can hurt. The responsible parent plans on them since they are hardly uncommon. (In my state flagship, close to 10% per year was the norm for a couple of decades.)
Well then how about redistribution…if socialism is too broad a word.
Call it what you will. I call it “affordable.” In fact, it’s cheaper to send my DS2 to Princeton than my DS1 to our flagship in-state public university.
How schools can justify increases that are more than double the CPI continues to amaze me. I thank God I’m through paying tuition.
“while the fee package (which includes tuition, room and board) for full-tuition paying families will increase from $62,750 to $65,810. For the 19th year in a row, Princeton will have the lowest fee package in the Ivy League.”
I looked up Princeton 2018-2019 tuition only and it’s $50,723. Compared to Cornell where my son attends, theirs is $54,584 (slight increase as well…I think it was ~$52k in 2016). Total price tag for Cornell is $73,884 but that’s including estimates for housing, food plan and books. So yes, looks like Princeton is a bargain for Ivy League.
Do you have evidence that this is the case? My understanding is that even full pay does not cover the actual student cost, so how is anyone subsidizing another student? Instead every student is being subsidized to some extent by the endowment.
I think it’s important to create a budget before our kids enroll that includes a plan for increases every year. If the school won’t be affordable all 4 years it’s better to know before they start.
@planner03 correctly notes that “even full pay does not cover the actual student cost” and that “every student is being subsidized to some extent by the endowment.”
This isn’t socialism; it’s an across the board subsidy, with the most needy being subsidized the most. If Princeton wanted to choose a purely capitalistic model I have no doubt they could fill their class with students with parents willing and able to pay far more than today’s "full pay’ price. I’m guessing there’d be plenty of takers at $300,000-500,000 per year.
Robbing from Peter to pay for Paul…nope not socialism say some, it’s capitalism. (cue sarcasm) Yep, unless you actually make enough where you have to pay the bill. The entire bill that is. Not, a portion, not where it’s cheaper that the State U, not where your kid got a great merit, or a big athletic “bonus” not scholarship.
But if you are paying the entire bill and all the related fees, and all of the associated other costs like travel, 5% hits you.
As a former scholarship recipient, I’m not going to delve into the “fairness” of it, but I never called my scholarships and financial aid anything but gifts from well meaning people. Thanks folks. I never was “entitled” to them as some think. I always was (and am) appreciative for the gift of education. And I respected the people who paid for me. Thanks. Not for “subsidizing” me but for giving me a gift that paid for a lifetime. Call it what you will, some give willingly and others give by arm twisting. Looks like this might be the latter.
If you are on financial aid, do you see your parents contribution increase due to this tuition hike? If so, how much of the tuition hike is being passed through to your bill? Is the statement from the news release “the average annual bill next year for students on aid is projected to decrease from $11,505 to $11,050” true?
Your expected family contribution won’t be affected by an increase in the “sticker price”.
I expect that the incomes of most families receiving financial aid won’t keep up with the tuition increase, and that Princeton’s financial aid budget will increase next year.
Keep in mind that Princeton is a wealthy institution, and could afford to give full rides to all of its students. They aren’t going to do anything to create hardship for their students.
Well President Eisgruber would disagree with you; he did respond to my email and basically told me to sit down and shut up. I should be happy the tuition isn’t higher he said. An arrogant response from an elitist to a full payer. I am speechless.