College tuitions across the country have increased 42% at public four-year institutions over the last decade. But while the cost of tuition continues to rise, the average family income in America has come to a stand still.
Confirmation at the public hearing on Jan. 23 that tuition will increase by $285 a semester at Texas A&M University-Commerce in fall 2007 has students in a tizzy and wondering just where the extra money will come from.
With over 57 billion dollars in grants and scholarships offered in the past two years nation wide, many students believe there should not be such difficulty in receiving extra help in the years to come, yet the amount of money taken out in student loans has increased by 130%.
“I think that instead of raising tuition for students, they should lower it. It is hard enough for us as students to pay for our education, and making it more expensive just makes is worse. Every little bit counts,” Patty Gutierrez, junior public relations major said.
Even when reassured that they would be able to get more money through student and personal loans, students were hesitant to go even further into debt. According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, in the past two years, 61% of students graduated with at least $17, 171 in loans they were required to pay back.
“As a young, independent student, I am left wondering how I am supposed to pay for the new higher tuition when I can barely afford tuition costs as they stand,” Tiffani Brennan, junior bilingual elementary education major said.
Although the majority of students are unhappy about paying more for their education, some have taken notice to the benefits that the $3.8 million in extra revenue may bring in the future for A&M-Commerce.
“It’s a catch twenty-two. As students we really enjoy the benefits of new parking, buildings, and other things to beautify A&M-Commerce; but on the other hand, we don’t want to pay the costs in order to obtain those things,” Jari Fleming, sophomore elementary education major said.
Others question the need for such things like the new student center, which is begininng construction, and the new music center that will take at least two and a half years to complete.
“I could definitely see positive things coming out of this. I would love to see the new music and student centers, I just don’t feel like there is a need for them at this time. Right now if the university were to put $500,000 into the current student center, they could keep it up for another five years, and when they are not trying to put up a new music building or fix sidewalks, then they could talk about a new one,” Nick Scott, freshman history major said.