By MARY PATRICK
With President Barack Obama announcing a new push in July to lower the cost of college tuition, many states have started programs looking that aim to tackle the issue.
The Obama Administration also is attempting to launch a program that will reward states for lowering the cost of higher education.
All the efforts from governments at the state and federal level are coming in reaction to the rapidly rising costs of higher education, which has been one of the biggest stories in higher education in recent years.
During the first decade of this century, the cost of tuition, room and board at public colleges and universities has increased by 46%, according to Bloomberg News.
However, it’s not just rising costs that are factored into that number. Most states have cut funding for college students. The level of spending per college student has fallen by a third, according to Bloomberg, meaning students and their parents are left picking up more of the cost.
The Associated Press recently reported that the cost of housing and food now eclipses tuition costs, with the average cost for housing and food at a public four-year university now reaching an average of $9,205 per student. Those numbers come from a recent College Board survey.
The good news for those who are considering attending classes either at a traditional campus or online is that states are beginning to address these cost issues.
The following are some of the states who are taking measures to reduce costs to students, according to Bloomberg.
Kentucky. Students get the chance to vote on any proposed increase in fees associated with capital projects.
Indiana. The state has capped the credit hours that universities require for graduation, with the intention of having more students in Indiana graduate on time.
Tennessee. The state changed its scholarship rules, allowing them to pay for summer courses, with the goal of getting more students to graduate on time. According to Bloomberg, the state current graduates only 43% of students in six years.
Connecticut. In an attempt to increase on-time graduation, Connecticut is now allowing students to take remedial courses while working on regular courses.
Maryland. The University System of Maryland’s Effectiveness and Efficiency took several measures to improve graduate rates. The state increased acceptance of out-of-classroom credits, changed entry-level classes to improve completion rates, increased faculty workload and cut the time it takes college students in Maryland to graduate, according to Bloomberg.
Obama is also seeking to increase federal aide for college students. His Race to the Top program rewards states who make college more affordable.
Obama has asked that Congress approve spending $1 billion on the programs. The Senate bill included $250 million for the program, but the House has not been willing to fund even that amount.
Additionally, Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota proposed that universities make their financial aid offers in one format to give students an easier way to compare costs. However, the measure was defeated, according to Bloomberg.
Please Leave A Comment
Related posts:
Cutting Tuition Costs: Government and Universities Combating Costs
GI Tuition Fairness Act Promises Lower College Costs for Vets
President Obama Unveils Plans to Reduce Education Costs
College Students in Many Places Must Prepare to Shoulder More Education Costs
State Funding Cuts Have Led to Tuition Increases, According to Researcher