My classmate Megan Harlow writes on higher education tuition in her blog entry titled “Tuition Raises.” She comments on the decision many universities in Texas and the nation are taking to raise tuition. Through questioning, Harlow arrives at the conclusion that raising tuition in high education will discourage many prospective students from even considering attending a university. A solution, she says, rests in the students and their parents; rather than attending a four-year university upon high school graduation, it is possible to join the military, work until enough resources are gathered, or transfer from a community college. Even so, many students are left without the opportunity to live the college experience.
I agree that tuition raises may discourage many students from continuing in higher education. This week a tuition advisory panel at the University of Texas at Austin has recommended a 2.6% tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students, while out-of-state students may face a higher percentage. The news has unsettled many students, among them the “Occupy UT” group, who has voiced their concerns in the general assemblies. Though scholarships, grants, and loans are available, these options are not the first to present themselves to many of the already disadvantaged students. Often, students resort to a more available option, which for many happens to be meager paying jobs that frequently prove to be insufficient for a decent survival. While higher education is promoted without end, obtaining it has become a challenge for many, and surely increased tuition will have many thinking in a different direction.
