Why are transcript so expensive?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I just ordered 2 transcripts from one of the colleges I've attended. They run $9 each plus a convenience fee if I pay by credit card.</p>

<p>What in the world costs so much about transcripts? I've probably spent over $200 in transcripts as I've needed a lot of them for a variety of reasons over the years.</p>

2

<p>The answer is in your screen name. Money is important, and people, corporations, and institutions all like as much of it as they can get.</p>

3

<p>Transcripts from Pitt are free! I recently needed one almost 3 decades after graduating and couldn’t believe there was no charge. And it was an official transcript mailed by the school to the institution I designated.</p>

4

<p>The cost varies by institution. You are paying for an employee’s time, the printing/paper, and postage (if you are requesting the transcript be sent somewhere).</p>

<p>The university where I work charges $3 but most institutions in my area charge $5-10.</p>

5

<p>DD paid as much as $25 for some schools, and for med school apps, they had to go to the nationwide app program AND to the TX program AND some schools actually wanted their own copy…and she had taken classes at 4 schools because of a couple of CC classes.</p>

<p>Grrrrr</p>

6

<p>It costs the school money to send an accurate, proof of no tampering transcript. Why should the students who don’t need them have to pay for yours as an added fee for all students (which would happen if they were “free”)? As mentioned- your screen name answers your question. Just below this thread is a “similar thread” question about official/non official transcripts- my first sentence covers that.</p>

7

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<p>That’s my situation. Multiple schools, and for various reasons, I’ve had a lot of reasons to request transcripts and pay for them. Right now it runs me about $35 anytime I sent a complete set of transcripts anywhere.</p>

<p>One college I’m currently attending charges a 1 time fee that provides free transcripts for life. I like that.</p>

8

<p>My son has attended six schools and the prices of transcripts varies. UIUC charged $5 each. The CC he attended charges $2. His current university doesn’t charge. The other universities that he attended don’t charge either. This can be a downside of taking a lot of dual-enrollment courses from several universities - you have to collect transcripts from all of them for applications.</p>

9

<p>I wonder if you guys can do what I did. I attended 2 colleges simultaneously, one a cc and the other my main school, a small LAC. After I graduated, I did student teaching through 3rd place. My LAC suggested I have the transcripts sent to them and all consolidated on their transcript. I did and it has worked for me ever since. Worth a try, at least. All were in the same state, though.</p>

10

<p>They pay so much because the colleges can get away with it.</p>

11

<p>Because schools have a monopoly on it.</p>

<p>And then don’t get me started on the SAT/ACT, GMAT, MCATS, LSAT, etc… </p>

<p>Hell, I’m surprised DMV fees haven’t gone up… I mean, who else is gonna “let you drive”</p>