4 ms·

Have you ever noticed that whenever government gives a bunch of money to higher education to operate, the cost to operate those universities goes up to match wh

Have you ever noticed that whenever government gives a bunch of money to higher education to operate, the cost to operate those universities goes up to match whatever extra was given?

mikeyouse 11y ago
The government has been dramatically scaling back direct funding of higher education which has to then be made up with higher tuition. Often times, yes, the tuition is then paid for with government-backed loans but the cost-per-student in most areas hasn't budged in 30 years.
Loughla 11y ago
That's just not true. Higher education costs have held steady for about 30 years. What has increased is the share of that cost that is being fronted by the student, instead of the government. You want to be mad, be mad. But at least point it in the right direction. For example - at the 'state funded' institution I was previously employed by, only 11% of our annual funding came from the state. Compare that to the 1970's, when around 60% came from the same source. The cost of tuition didn't increase (outside of annual inflation adjustments) overall. The cost to the student increased because the state cut back so hard on their payments. Meanwhile, students demand the same, or better services every year. You can have cheap, you can have good, but you can't have both. The fact that people going to college in the 1970's were able to pay for college on part-time summer jobs wasn't because it was miraculously cheap. It was heavily subsidized. These aren't secrets.
jahewson 11y ago
Citation needed.
gnoway 11y ago
Have you ever noticed that wherever you point a firehose, the target tends to get soaked as soon as you turn the water on?
fnordfnordfnord 11y ago
No but I have noticed that when the state reduces its funding contribution, that tuition rises to compensate.

4 ms·

Have you ever noticed that whenever government gives a bunch of money to higher education to operate, the cost to operate those universities goes up to match wh

by NoMoreNicksLeft 11y ago

Have you ever noticed that whenever government gives a bunch of money to higher education to operate, the cost to operate those universities goes up to match whatever extra was given?

mikeyouse 11y ago
The government has been dramatically scaling back direct funding of higher education which has to then be made up with higher tuition. Often times, yes, the tuition is then paid for with government-backed loans but the cost-per-student in most areas hasn't budged in 30 years.
Loughla 11y ago
That's just not true. Higher education costs have held steady for about 30 years. What has increased is the share of that cost that is being fronted by the student, instead of the government. You want to be mad, be mad. But at least point it in the right direction. For example - at the 'state funded' institution I was previously employed by, only 11% of our annual funding came from the state. Compare that to the 1970's, when around 60% came from the same source. The cost of tuition didn't increase (outside of annual inflation adjustments) overall. The cost to the student increased because the state cut back so hard on their payments. Meanwhile, students demand the same, or better services every year. You can have cheap, you can have good, but you can't have both. The fact that people going to college in the 1970's were able to pay for college on part-time summer jobs wasn't because it was miraculously cheap. It was heavily subsidized. These aren't secrets.
jahewson 11y ago
Citation needed.
gnoway 11y ago
Have you ever noticed that wherever you point a firehose, the target tends to get soaked as soon as you turn the water on?
fnordfnordfnord 11y ago
No but I have noticed that when the state reduces its funding contribution, that tuition rises to compensate.