2008 Woodie Awards
What causes tuition to increase every year?
Part two of a series on rising tuition cost and ways students pay
Amethyst Handevidt
Issue date: 2/1/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Previously we took a look at the possible 7.7 percent increase in tuition. This story will look at why we have had so many tuition increases over the past few years, and what the university is planning to do to help students.
On the surface, tuition increases because MnSCU has reduced the amount of money the campuses get to pay their bills, while the bills keep increasing. Another reason tuition increases is because Southwest State University has no economy of scale. This means that SMSU has a reduced number of students to spread out the costs.
Provost Raymond Lou said there is a shift in the thinking of society as a whole when it comes to education. He said society as a whole used to think that educating individuals was a benefit to the whole society. Now it is viewed as a benefit to the individual, so society says the individual should pay.
So what does the administration at SMSU plan to do to keep tuition down?
"One thing we can do to balance the budget is to increase enrollment. We do not want to increase enrollment too much--maybe to 4,000," Provost Lou said.
The administration also wants to raise $17.2 million from private donors. Once they raise this money they will put it in the bank and use the interest to help run the university. This will not solve the whole problem, but it will help students as most of the money will go to scholarships.
SMSU Student Body President Erin Kooiker said she believes this years tuition increase is reasonable.
"Students have been hit pretty hard over the last few years, at least this year it was not out of control," Kooiker said.
Kooiker also pointed out that there are going to be changes in HR 609. It will be harder to get student loans. Kookier gave her own suggestions for students trying to get through school.
"Take as many credits as possible so you can get your monies worth while you are here, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and be careful with college debt," Kooiker said.
On the surface, tuition increases because MnSCU has reduced the amount of money the campuses get to pay their bills, while the bills keep increasing. Another reason tuition increases is because Southwest State University has no economy of scale. This means that SMSU has a reduced number of students to spread out the costs.
Provost Raymond Lou said there is a shift in the thinking of society as a whole when it comes to education. He said society as a whole used to think that educating individuals was a benefit to the whole society. Now it is viewed as a benefit to the individual, so society says the individual should pay.
So what does the administration at SMSU plan to do to keep tuition down?
"One thing we can do to balance the budget is to increase enrollment. We do not want to increase enrollment too much--maybe to 4,000," Provost Lou said.
The administration also wants to raise $17.2 million from private donors. Once they raise this money they will put it in the bank and use the interest to help run the university. This will not solve the whole problem, but it will help students as most of the money will go to scholarships.
SMSU Student Body President Erin Kooiker said she believes this years tuition increase is reasonable.
"Students have been hit pretty hard over the last few years, at least this year it was not out of control," Kooiker said.
Kooiker also pointed out that there are going to be changes in HR 609. It will be harder to get student loans. Kookier gave her own suggestions for students trying to get through school.
"Take as many credits as possible so you can get your monies worth while you are here, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and be careful with college debt," Kooiker said.