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College Affordability Report Highlights Challege |
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A report released this week by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education is generating a great deal of discussion and calls for a national response to help make college more affordable. In the mid-term these calls are worthy
, and an increased collective investment in educating more of our young citizens will benefit us economically. What is getting lost in most of this conversation, however, is that while the average net cost of attending college has been rising rapidly, that cost has not been spread evenly among all college students. Given the tuition costs already built into most college options, and with the prospect of either dramatic tuition increases or dramatic enrollment cutbacks in many state two and four year college systems in response to declining state tax revenues because of the economic resesssion, it is more important that even to apply to college in a smart way. When I suggested in my book that entering college students would be best served by applying to between six and ten colleges, and then waiting until they received financial aid offers to choose between options based on net price and best value, I was advising readers to take action to improve college affordability. If enough students shop for college with affordability in mind, the market will start putting pressure on all colleges to aggresivesly address the affordability issue. But even if that doesn't happen, make sure you (or your dependents) shop smart for college value. It is more important than ever. |
