<p>I question whether programs like Bloustein or NJ STARS really make the difference in persuading a critical mass of students to stay in NJ. $1000 (Bloustein) is a trivial drop in the bucket compared to Rutgers’ $23K+ in-state tuition, room and board. It’s true that NJ’s greatest export is 18-year-olds. It’s also true that (at least until fairly recently) the state attracted a net inflow of educated, highly trained adults for its workforce, so the outflow of college students didn’t matter. However, this state has become so expensive for the middle class and so overtaxed that companies and small businesses are leaving. We’re the new California (and not in a good way). Christie is an aggressive loudmouth but something has to be done.</p>
<p>Something certainly has to be done, cutting costs and salaries is a reasonable approach, cutting merit aid for those who can afford to pay may also be appropriate, but cutting aid for those who already can’t pay doesn’t help much. It fuels a system where top end higher ed is supported by all taxpayers but only available to higher income families - educational apartheid, already being practiced in many other states. Unfortunately that’s what Christie has been doing, using budget concerns to justify continued support for business and wealthy residents at the expense of those on the bottom.</p>