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[quote]
The Problem With In-State Tuition
5742-Pielke-Commentary</p>
<p>Randy Enos for The Chronicle
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<p>By Roger Pielke Jr.</p>
<p>This past April, the Colorado House Education Committee rejected a bill that would have granted the children of undocumented state residents in-state university tuition. The issue pitted those who support educational opportunity for all young Colorado residents against those more concerned about the implications of legal citizenship for the receipt of state benefits. Both parties have valid concerns, yet there were, and still are, larger issues at stake.</p>
<p>Specifically, why does in-state tuition exist at all? Does it serve the state's larger goals?</p>
<p>At the University of Colorado at Boulder, where I am a professor, the distinction between in-state and out-of-state tuition categories is as familiar, and is as taken for granted, as the difference between engineering and law. It should be, having existed across the nation for generations. The</a> Problem With In-State Tuition - Commentary - The Chronicle of Higher Education</p>
<p>Colorado is somewhat unique in that they now get very little state $$$$ at all. So he might be right for Colorado. In states that still fund higher ed to the $billions it is proper to charge instate less. Consider it prepaid tuition through taxes.</p>
<p>The same total revenue could be raised with a flat tuition rate of about $14,000, which would instantly make Colorado extremely competitive nationally and internationally,</p>
<p>While it might make the school more attractive to OOS and int’l students, it would shut out many instate students…especially low income and middle income students.</p>
<p>Once you add room, board, fees, books, misc and personal expenses, you’re at a COA of $30k or more. How are low income kids going to pay for that with Pell and a 5500 student loan? Even the low-income commuters couldn’t pay for tuition, fees, books, transportation with that little of aid. </p>
<p>With a COA of $30k for instate kids, you’re shutting out a bunch of kids.</p>
<p>^That reality is already here at a lot of state schools. My brother is paying close to $25k at OSU in-state before Pell grant, OSU grant, financial aid, etc. State schools aren’t really the affordable option anymore, community colleges are.</p>
<p>Ohio State is high, but not that high…especially if a student is economical…</p>
<p>In-state tuition and fees: $9,735 </p>
<p>Room and board: $9,180 </p>
<p>Books and supplies: $1,554 (this definitely can be reduced)</p>
<p>Personal expenses: 4500 (this is grossly over-estimated. No student needs to spend nearly that much. That’s over $100 per week during the school year!!! Such a kid is either going out too often or is dressed too nicely! lol)</p>
<h2>Transportation: 250</h2>
<p>A student who is careful with money should be able to go to OSU for about $22k…maybe less if lower R&B can be had as an upper-classmen.</p>
<p>But, yes, it is still very high for a Pell student. At least the tuition isn’t $14k. </p>
<p>Frankly, it’s very hard for a Pell student to “go away” to school, which is why most have to commute to their local CC and state school. Tax-payers aren’t going to pay for the “sleep away” experience…that’s a luxury. </p>
<p>I don’t think any state school should charge rates where tuition, fees, and books are more than a full Pell Grant + Stafford…so about $11k total. Any additional expenses can be covered with work-study or a summer job.</p>
<p>This is totally unrealistic. Some states heavily subsidize their public universities. Others don’t. Some public universities try to provide a top quality education; others settle for mediocrity, which can generally be had for a lower price. Some public universities charge a higher tuition but provide instititional FA over and above Pell grants, effectively charging a higher net price to those with greater ability to pay—which is just what private universities do. Others have no money of their own to put into FA, so federal FA—Pell grants, Stafford loans, and work-study—is pretty much all they have to offer.</p>
<p>The idea that all public universities should have a uniform tuition set at the level that low-income kids can afford is just kind of silly. If state legislatures—and ultimately taxpayers—are willing to pay for it, then fine. But so far, at least, they’re not. On the other hand, why focus on just the publics? If we’re going to demand that of public universities, then why not say that in order to qualify for their privileged tax-exempt status, all private universities should also provide the same thing?</p>