Tuition Takes its Toll

            A mere 20 years ago, one quarter at Ohio University cost a hair over $2,000. Over time that number has grown by over 300% to its current rate, plus the additional vast increases in other fees such as the controversial “general fee” and housing costs. Any economics expert would tell you it is natural for prices to rise over time simply because of inflation, but what is so alarming about college tuition in the United States is that is consistently beating out average inflation and it is doing so with triple digit percentages. The effects this has on students, and unavoidably, the whole economy, is tremendous. Today, college hopefuls who face these large costs often have no choice but to take out loans and debt to cover the immediate costs, but paying off these loans in the long term is what poses such a threat to what is essentially the future of the American workforce.

            Graduating with over $30,000 in debt has now become common among students in recent years. With the dwindling economy and scarce job market, many have been forced into underemployment, settling for jobs much below the standard traditionally held by those with full degrees. With this mounting debt, college loans are soon expected to be single largest source of debt in the United States, and for a country that is already deep in the red, the prevalence of this debt has the potential to literally burst cause a negative wave through the whole economy.

            University administrators have blamed the lack of state funding in recent years for much of the tuition hikes, but with research, it can be seen that the current system has quite a bit of fat that can trimmed to maximize the massive investment students make in their educations. Many departments, athletics being the most notorious, annually exceed their allotted budgets, costing the university money it does not even have, while other educational departments have faced steep cuts. This trend goes directly against what many students have been pleading for. Currently, there is no official system that grants students power in making key decisions on items such as budgeting and tuition increases.  Something needs to be done to change the trend of student debt, and many believe giving students a greater voice is a step in the right direction. Regardless of what action it is, changes need to be made or the future of the United States will be anchored and sunk by the sea of debt they are forcing upon college hopefuls.

By Steven Turville