THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO SINCE 1965
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May 2, 2023
Vol. LXX, No. 11
IN THIS ISSUE New JFK assasination documents
The fate of concert ticket prices
The power of ASMR
CSUSB Men’s Basketball dominates
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Rising tuition costs make college unaffordable By Ariana Cervera Staff Writer The cost of higher education has been on an upward trend for decades now, and from my perspective, the rising cost of college tuition seems to have no end in sight. As a college student, I know firsthand how rising tuition costs can be a major source of frustration for many students. According to uopeople.edu, the cost of an undergraduate degree has increased by 213% at public schools and 129% at private schools. In other words, tuition costs are nearly three times what they were in the 1980s. The high amounts of student loan debt seem less shocking when considering how expensive tuition costs have become. Many students attend public universities because it’s the most affordable route, but that isn’t always true. According to Forbes’ author Edward Conroy, only 24% of four-year and 40% of two-year public colleges can be considered affordable based on a new report from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN). Students then end up with greater loan debt because the supposedly affordable choices are no longer that, says Conroy. Of course, some may argue that rising tuition is necessary for educational institutions and that the student loan debt will be worth it in the long run.
An article on theclassroom. com supports this by highlighting some potential benefits of rising tuition costs, such as improved teaching equipment, renovations on campus, and improved campus safety and notification systems, which can give universities a competitive edge. Universities may also use the money to improve resources and centers to help students with their careers, disabilities, and physical or emotional support. However, it seems that the disadvantages of rising tuition outweigh the advantages here, particularly for students. When considering affordability issues in everyday necessities in addition to the skyrocketing student loan debt, the burden of debt becomes too heavy for many students to bear. In an article by the Los Angeles Times, author Teresa Watanabe states over half the population of students attending the University of California or California State University believe their schools are unaffordable. They also believe that community colleges and vocational training are becoming better paths to career success. According to Watanbe, more than three-fourths of state residents think four-year degrees are valuable. When asked if they believe higher education is useful to achieve better economic opportunities, like in the past, 53% said “yes” and 45% said “no.” 63% of respondents believed multiple pathway
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educations that include attending college and participating in apprenticeships lead to success in a profitable career. Only 33% think four-year degrees are needed. Watanbe states that the estimated 2022-23 cost of attendance for California residents who live on campus is $38,504 for UCs and $30,676 for CSUs. It’s not only California public universities and residents struggling with unaffordability. I think if more participants from other states were surveyed, the number of people who think college is unaffordable would increase, especially when including private universities and educational institutions in expensive cities. About forty-eight million people have student loan debt and collectively owe more than 1.6 trillion in federal student loans, according to CFR.org. The total amount increases to 1.7 trillion when including private loans. Student loan debt surpasses auto loans and credit card debt, making the $12 trillion home mortgage debt the only larger one, according to the article. In 2021, almost two-thirds of recent college graduates enrolled at a college or university and most took out student loans. Many students have to take out bigger loans because college tuition has
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increased dramatically, while income has not increased at the same rate. This creates a vicious cycle of debt, where students are forced to borrow more money to pay for their education, but then struggle to repay their loans because they can’t find jobs that pay enough. The U.S. is among the countries with the most expensive university costs, and it’s time for a change. It’s no wonder that many students are looking for alternative paths to success. Many countries offer much more affordable and sometimes free post-secondary education. The government must take action to reduce the cost of tuition and student loan debt. There are many ways to do this, such as increasing funding for public universities and community colleges, providing tax credits and deductions for
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education expenses, and creating income-based repayment plans for student loans. Moreover, educational institutions must take responsibility for their part in this crisis. They must look for ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible to all students. This includes providing more scholarships and financial aid to students in need and streamlining administrative processes to reduce overhead costs. It’s time for our society to recognize the importance of education and make it accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. The burden of student loan debt is too great, and we cannot continue to ignore this issue. It is time for universities and policymakers to work together to find solutions that make higher education more accessible and affordable for all.
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