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I was curious, looked up the numbers for the US vs UK: UK annual tuition: $9,000 - $13,440 (the max for public) [1] US avg annual tuition, public: $9,410 [2]

I was curious, looked up the numbers for the US vs UK: UK annual tuition: $9,000 - $13,440 (the max for public) [1] US avg annual tuition, public: $9,410 [2] US avg annual tuition, private: $32,405 [2] It's possible fees might not matter too much up to a certain range... investing in yourself could be justified economically up to a certain amount, after which the fees could be too much to justify (unless you have wealthy family to help out). [1] http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/student-finance/how-much-does-it-cost-study-uk http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/student-finance/... [2] http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/average-published-undergraduate-charges-sector-2015-16 http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-table...

jld89 11y ago
Compare that to France where it's $500 annual tuition (health insurance included).
- maxerickson 11y ago
  I think supporting young people, up to a point, is a great idea, but comparing the numbers there is meaningless. France has chosen a higher amount of support, but that means that society at large is bearing the costs, not that France is educating students for $500 a year.
  - jld89 11y ago
    Well comparing expenditures in education in both countries France spends less than the UK. So both societies are bearing similar costs with differing benefits. Education expenditures in France: 5.9% of GDP UK: 6% Source: CIA World Factbook.
    - maxerickson 11y ago
      Meaningless was a poor choice of word. The $500 a year will obviously impact the decisions made by students. But I think it is useful to compare the total costs, not just the costs observable by the student. The outcomes in the US certainly aren't impressive, college degrees are becoming basic credentials, with little consideration of their utility. Not all academic pursuit needs to be measured against the economic utility it provides, but at a systemic level you probably want it to be at least roughly balanced against that utility.
      - jld89 11y ago
        I agree and that's why I cited total education expenditure. Not how much a student pays. So the total cost of education in France is 5.9% of GDP. Yes, of course it should be at least roughly balanced against that utility. But that's an entirely different debate, than one about equality of opportunity in education by cost paid by the student.

jld89 11y ago

Compare that to France where it's $500 annual tuition (health insurance included).

maxerickson 11y ago
I think supporting young people, up to a point, is a great idea, but comparing the numbers there is meaningless. France has chosen a higher amount of support, but that means that society at large is bearing the costs, not that France is educating students for $500 a year.
- jld89 11y ago
  Well comparing expenditures in education in both countries France spends less than the UK. So both societies are bearing similar costs with differing benefits. Education expenditures in France: 5.9% of GDP UK: 6% Source: CIA World Factbook.
  - maxerickson 11y ago
    Meaningless was a poor choice of word. The $500 a year will obviously impact the decisions made by students. But I think it is useful to compare the total costs, not just the costs observable by the student. The outcomes in the US certainly aren't impressive, college degrees are becoming basic credentials, with little consideration of their utility. Not all academic pursuit needs to be measured against the economic utility it provides, but at a systemic level you probably want it to be at least roughly balanced against that utility.
    - jld89 11y ago
      I agree and that's why I cited total education expenditure. Not how much a student pays. So the total cost of education in France is 5.9% of GDP. Yes, of course it should be at least roughly balanced against that utility. But that's an entirely different debate, than one about equality of opportunity in education by cost paid by the student.