The price of college tuition has always been a gripe for those of us who have to scrape from various resources.
Apparently, some folks around the Texas capitol are beginning to take notice of the complaints. Raymund Paredes, the commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, met with the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education to discuss the findings of a report on the rising cost of tuition in the state. According to the coordinating board, tuition has risen 112 percent, as reported in a story by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It’s a big number, and mind you just an average.
The state legislature voted to deregulate tuition in 2003, which means universities and colleges across the state are authorized to set tuition costs as they deem appropriate. It has been the hot topic on college campuses since deregulation, with just about every Texas university student following the issue who sees the money increasingly flowing out of their pockets.
Gov. Rick Perry maintains tuition deregulation was the right thing to do, despite the numbers and complaints from parents and students. In fact, Perry told the Dallas Morning News at a meeting with university system regents that he would approve getting rid of state-funded scholarships and instead allow qualified students to receive the money, who could use it at any public or private university. Basically, Perry wants college and universities to take responsibility for how they receive and spend money. That’s Texas’ anti-big government attitude at its finest and exactly the way some people like it.
Anything could happen, too. The Texas Legislature, which meets on a biannual basis and reconvenes in 2009, is planning to take a closer look at tuition. Several state representatives and senators have promised to get tuition regulated once again, while others say they still support deregulation. However, the attitude among university presidents and regents seems to be that deregulation was the right step because it allows them to be competitive by offering higher salaries and hiring more instructors, which help lower student-teacher ratios.
But if anyone really has a say in the matter it’s students and their parents, who fork out the funds to get that increasingly important degree. The 2008 state elections will serve as a gauge for voters who are happy or unhappy with the way college costs have affected them.
Tuition Breakdown
2003 v. 2007 tuition costs for top five universities with largest enrollment
(Based on 15 credit hours)
University of Texas
2003: $2,721 2007: $4,065
Texas A&M University
2003: $2,357 2007: $3,895
University of Houston
2003: $2,266 2007: $3,767
University of North Texas
2003: $2,366 2007: $3,337
University of Texas-San Antonio
2003: $2,222 2007: $3,621
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board