The evidence from proprietary MyinTuition data is consistent with that obtained from net price calculators for the category of highly endowed private colleges. This correspondence suggests that data gathered from net price calculators is reasonably reliable as well. Collectively, these data indicate that the perception of rising college costs in the last five to ten years is not accurate.

But that does not mean that college is broadly affordable. Whether or not a student whose family earns $300,000 or more per year can afford a $90,000 price tag is an open question. But at many institutions, families earning $40,000 are still expected to come up with $15,000 to $20,000 per year. It seems clear that amount is not affordable. Only the highly endowed institutions charge a price that these low-income families can afford through, say, limited student employment. A large tax on the endowments of these institutions may imperil their ability to offer that level of financial aid.

It is not difficult to understand why there is such uncertainty regarding college pricing. The system is sufficiently complicated that it is difficult for a student or family to know how much it will cost them to attend college. Politicians and those in the media similarly face information constraints in setting policy and reporting on college costs. We need to improve the transparency of college pricing if we are to increase awareness of its true cost. Transparency and affordability in our college pricing system are critical issues. The emphasis on rising sticker prices should not be our focus.

  • orclev@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Whether college prices have risen in the last five to ten years is irrelevant because they rose precipitously over the last fifty years. There was a time when you could pay for college with the money earned in a minimum wage job without needing to take out a student loan. The fact that it now takes multiple years worth of wages (for any job someone without a college degree is likely able to get) is an issue.

  • 60d@lemmy.ca
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    20 hours ago

    This article seems to be speaking to the USA.

    WDGAF about the USA. You’re a sinking ship that is readying the mass imprisonment/deportation of student protestors.

    OFC it’s getting cheaper to go to school in the USA. Free labour in prison.