Opposing view: Tuition reflects market realities
The cost of higher education isn't one size fits all. Instructional requirements are more costly for some disciplines than for others. Course work in engineering and business, for example, comes with a much higher overhead than does a general studies curriculum.
Many of these programs are in high demand, and not just because at the University of Illinois they are ranked among the best in the nation. Graduates in the sciences, engineering, business and other high-demand curricula also tend to be in greater demand by employers and have significantly more career earning power.
A truly world-class education is driven by quality and demand.
In recent years, tuition schedules have evolved to reflect those market realities. Rates that were once applied across the board are now tempered by a principle of fairness. Students in high-demand, high-cost programs and with prospects for higher salaries should not be subsidized by other students.
For public universities, tuition differentials have also been driven, in part, by declining state financial support. At the three-campus University of Illinois, state support covered half of instructional costs three decades ago, but now accounts for just 15%.
Opinions expressed in USA TODAY's editorials are decided by its Editorial Board, a demographically and ideologically diverse group that is separate from USA TODAY's news staff.
Most editorials are accompanied by an opposing view — a unique USA TODAY feature that allows readers to reach conclusions based on both sides of an argument rather than just the Editorial Board's point of view.
Consequently, tuition has risen to help bridge the gap, shifting costs to students and their families. Tuition differentials are an offshoot of that shift, ensuring that costs are in line with the education students receive.
As college sticker price and student debt increase, so do concerns about accessibility, and the university is working to make sure no deserving student is denied the life-changing opportunity of a University of Illinois education simply due to cost. Need-based financial assistance has increased nearly fourfold during the past decade to more than $60 million annually.
Economic forces have changed the funding model for higher education, but the University of Illinois is committed to striking a balance that ensures fairness, access and best-in-class graduates who will lead new generations of progress.
Christophe Pierre is vice president for academic affairs at the University of Illinois, which enrolls more than 77,000 students on three campuses.
Signup for Updates:
Latest Updates
-
Powell, McCombs & The Fog of War
It's been a busy week in Texas higher education news, and as usual The University of Texas stands at the center. Two major stories from the last week warrant mention, beginning with a lengthy two-part Texas Monthly interview with Gene Powell, chairman of the UT Board of Regents.
Powell's interview (Part One, Part Two) comes hot on the heels of an op-ed that ran in the Houston Chronicle under the byline of Red McCombs, the prominent University of Texas supporter from San Antonio and Distinguished Alumnus for whom the business school is named.Continue reading -
Coalition Responds to Passage of Senate Bill 15 to Improve Higher Education Governance
Today the Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 15, relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education. Upon passage the Coalition issued the following statement:
“We applaud the legislature for recognizing the important need to improve standards of excellence within our state’s governing boards. Texas’ institutions of higher education are critical to our state’s economy, and ensuring we develop educated, well-informed citizens to drive our state’s future. Senate Bill 15 is an important step toward improving the governance of these critical state institutions and ensuring members of the boards of regents are adequately equipped, prepared and trained to govern properly. It is our hope that the standards set forth in this bill will lead to a more constructive and less divisive approach to governing our universities.”See the full statement here.Continue reading