Recently, Julie Mack wrote an
excellent article
(What
many older people don’t realize about college costs today). She
points out (with great charts!) a number of factors that contribute to the
challenge high school students face today. In the ‘60s, ’70s, and ‘80s, students could work their way through
college. However, that opportunity is no
longer available. Let’s look, briefly,
at why.
1. Tuition was
considerably cheaper. It has quadrupled, even after factoring in
inflation. For public universities,
approximately 70% of their funds came from state funding. Now, only 23% do. Adjusted for inflation, the 2001 Michigan
state subsidy was 68% greater than the 2017 subsidy. The Michigan House Fiscal Agency calculated
that between 60% and 80% of the tuition increases between 2000 and 2013 could
be attributed to cuts in state funding.
2. Financial aid
is different now. In 1975, loans comprised 17% of financial
aid. Now, federal loans account for 42%
of aid (some sources report an even higher percentage.) The maximum Pell grant in 1975 covered ALL of
tuition AND some room and board expenses.
The current maximum Pell grant
will cover less than half of the tuition costs at a public university. Social Security stopped paying benefits
to students who had lost a parent in 1982.
In 1975, Social Security paid more money to US college students than
Pell grants did. Scholarship monies have
significantly decreased, with some need based scholarships that used to cover full tuition costs now
only cover $1,000.
3. Working
during college is FAR less lucrative. The high paying factory jobs collegians could
work during the summers and earn enough to cover the next year’s college costs,
are gone. The jobs college students can
get now typically pay minimum wage, half (or less) of what students in the
1970s earned.
IIf you are interested in lowering your college costs, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. Over the past 13 years working with families all over the US, I have identified the key factors that need to be addressed in order to lower college costs and increase college funding. My Class of 2017 students were offered over $243,000 each, on average, in college scholarships. As wonderful as that is, it's only part of the expertise I bring to each client's situation. Working holistically, I am able to guide students to college success. Here's how I define that:
Premier Student Preparation
+ Savvy College Selection
+ Abundant Funding
= College Success
Email me today to request your college consultation. Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS kob@CelticCollegeConsultants.com
For more information regarding my services, please visit http://CelticCollegeConsultants.com
IIf you are interested in lowering your college costs, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. Over the past 13 years working with families all over the US, I have identified the key factors that need to be addressed in order to lower college costs and increase college funding. My Class of 2017 students were offered over $243,000 each, on average, in college scholarships. As wonderful as that is, it's only part of the expertise I bring to each client's situation. Working holistically, I am able to guide students to college success. Here's how I define that:
Premier Student Preparation
+ Savvy College Selection
+ Abundant Funding
= College Success
Email me today to request your college consultation. Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS kob@CelticCollegeConsultants.com
For more information regarding my services, please visit http://CelticCollegeConsultants.com
For Julie's full article, please
see: