The cost of a college education is rising in the U.S

Name: Jung, Seowon
Class: ESL 100

The cost of a college education is rising in the U.S

Some of private colleges have increased their tuition as if they are competing with one another. In order to maintain or increase budgets, colleges and universities need to continue to increase tuition and fees (Eric, 2007). According to USA Today (Sandra, 2007), in the past 25 years, the average cost of tuition and fees has risen faster than personal income, consumer prices and even health insurance. The tuition of college increased by 295% between 1982 and 2003, a growth rate higher than health care costs (195%), housing (84%), and all items (83%) (Richard, 2008).

I question whether the U.S government offers a learning opportunity for an education to U.S citizen even international students. Unfortunately, “the cost of attending college has been rising faster than inflation and faster than family incomes, prompting anguished outcries from consumers and calls in Congress for colleges to rein in their costs or disgorge more of their endowments” (New York Times, 2007). To be specific, “the tuition and other costs, not including room and board, rose to $6,185 at public four-year colleges this year, up 6.6% from last year, while tuition at private colleges hit $23,712, and increase of 6.3%. At public two-year institution, average tuition and fees rose 4.2% to $2,361” (Jonathan, 2007). Not only college tuition is rising every year, but Financial Aid is not helping the students. If so, why have the U.S government, colleges and universities raised their tuition and reduced their financial aid program? Experts have tried to explain that there are specific reasons. One expert, Ronald G. Ehrenberg (2000), explains why tuition has risen by looking at the decisions that affect costs rather than by looking at a list of items that cost more. These decisions are motivated by the competition among institutions to seek the highest rankings (for example, a department that ranks ahead of all but ten in the country). In a winner-takeall economy, the best students seek admission to the institutions that are ranked the highest.

In my opinion, one of the major reasons was that students want better facilities, environment, and teachers to study. Furthermore, another serious reason was that the government has reduced their Financial Aid programs.

Work cited :
Jonathan D. Glater College costs rising at double the inflation rate. 22 Oct. 2007
Haley Davis College cost rising, but degree still important.
University of California, CA : News for Faculty and Staff of the University of
California, 30 Nov 2007.
New York Times Too costly for even the well-to-do. 19 Dec. 2007.
Richard Vedder Going broke by degree : Why college costs too much 18 Jan. 2008
Ronald, Ehrenberg G. Tuition Rising: Why College Costs So Much, with a New Preface.
Cambridge, MA: Havard University Press, 2000.
Sandra Block Rising of college costs USA Today : Rising costs make climb to higher
education steeper, 12 Jan. 2007.