costs of higher education

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New Data on Colleges!

The Federal government has released new data on American colleges in an effort to help students choose where they want to study. According to Inside Higher Education

These new data show publicly, for the first time, the share of a college’s former students who make some progress in paying down their federal loans within the first three years after leaving college. And they provide the first comprehensive look at how much students who receive federal loans and Pell Grants end up earning after they leave a specific college, both in the short term and long term.

The College Scorecard is available at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

 

 

 

 

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College Costs Out of Control

by Emily Bonney

In an article from Forbes Magazine, contributor Steve Odland provides some cold, hard numbers concerning the rising costs of college. Odland reminds readers that a there is a correlation between the amount of education a person has received and their average income. People without any college education earn almost $18,000 a year less than the US average wage, and less than half of what someone with a four year degree makes. While it is said that everyone has the same opportunities to receive this education, it is obviously not the case. Only 17% of the US population has earned an undergraduate degree, but the costs of college may change this in the future. Accounting for inflation, Odland states that while the consumer price index has risen 115%, but college education inflation rate has risen nearly 500% since 1985. Even with government aid, private funding, and scholarships, many students in today’s education system still have to take out loans which accrue interest. Odland attributes this rise in costs to the tenure policies, and the rise in spending on administration for the institutions rather than on professors or other capital expansions that would benefit the colleges.

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College or Retirement?

by Mike Acciavatti

A recent article in U.S. News contained some disconcerting news:  college costs cause some people to choose retirement over an education for their children. The main problem is that parents do not want their children to be saddled with debut upon graduation due to the rising costs of higher education.  The article stipulates however that no matter how appealing a suggestion this may be parents SHOULD NOT risk their retirement future on college for their children.

The author states that the best strategy for dealing with college costs is to start saving early in a child’s life. The author states that simply putting the money away in a savings account is not necessarily the best option because it does not earn interest, causing it to not keep pace with rising inflation and rising costs of college.  Rather, the best way to save is to look at your state’s and school’s 529 or other savings plans.  By taking advantage of these programs the cost of college can be considerably less intimidating.

Every parent wants to give their child the best, and some would risk their own well being in retirement to ensure that. However, saving and investing, combined with scholarship and merit based financial aid, will ensure that both parents and children will have a safe financial future.

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College Cost: A Universal Issue

by Patrick Lamarra

For those of you that enjoy the musical stylings in Les Miserables as much as I do, there is quote sung by Enjolras during the revolution that can help to inspire hope into our noble cause of lowering the college cost for Middle Income Families.  In the hope to inspire his men, Enjolras sings “We are not alone, the people too most rise.”  This quote can serve in a way to reflect what must be done by college students in regards to college cost.  CSCubed is not the only group that wants to challenge the rising college cost in America.  Students from Babson College, Emmanuel College, Merrimack College, and Newbury College all went to the Massachusetts’ State House the other day in order to lobby for more funding towards the ever growing college cost.  Students there were lobbying for $9 to $10 million to be added on to the state’s financial aid budget.  This stand by the students in Massachusetts offers a similar situation done by the students involved with CSCubed.  The push towards helping Middle Income families afford college is ever evident in modern day America.  If college students can band together and lobby for reforms in the area, much can be done about college cost.  But, the people most join together.  To learn more about the Massachusetts’ student led lobbying efforts click on the link below.

http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_25222858/students-appeal-help-college-costs?source=rss