More and more colleges are starting to employ what is called "differential tuition." That means that studying some disciplines will cost you more than others. One reason for this is to discourage too many students from a particular course of study. For example, at the University of Tennessee, the number of business students has doubled in the past few years, while the school's budget and the number of faculty has stayed the same. Still, students want a business degree because it will pay off better in the long run than a degree in philosophy. That is another reason college can charge more: because the result is worth it. But is it fair?
But what happens to students who can only afford a degree in a cheaper field? Should public universities set prices according to the laws of supply and demand? Or will higher tuition for, say, engineers only discourage students from becoming the workers we will need in the future? Link
(Image credit: Flickr user gadgetdude)
Universities have to pay "competitive salaries to retain" professors who are in demand elsewhere, says The Cavalier Daily of the University of Virginia. The "market value" of business, engineering, and nursing professors is higher than that of other disciplines, and it makes sense for those programs to be more expensive.
But what happens to students who can only afford a degree in a cheaper field? Should public universities set prices according to the laws of supply and demand? Or will higher tuition for, say, engineers only discourage students from becoming the workers we will need in the future? Link
(Image credit: Flickr user gadgetdude)
Actually I think higher education should be heavily subsidized by the government, but the rich and powerful Oz doesn't want an educated society (might lead to more equality).
My insignificant BA in Theatre didn't earn me much, but hey, it was free!
tinspoons, I agree 100% with the gov subsidies, but I will say that the pattern is usually that there are a lot of educated people who have degrees and not enough jobs suited to their educations, so you get a lot of people with law degrees driving taxies, and STILL no equality. At least, that's how I've seen it in the other countries I've visited, I'm no expert by any means.
There does not need to be any subsidies. There needs to be open books, auditing, and discontinuation of tenure.
You (or your kids) PAY a University for education, yet nobody holds them to the same type of accountability that one does a other services. Why not? If your goal is education, then demand that you get value. If you just want to pay for a piece of paper with a name on it, then none of this really matters.
If a Professor takes up most of the class talking off-topic, demand your money back. That's what you'd do with a plumber that talked about her family life instead of unclogging your drain.
Until and unless Universities and Colleges are held to the same expectations as Trade Schools, absolutely nothing will change and will all end up paying more while getting less.