Penn State and Pitt- highest tuition in US (Clarion, Slippery Rock: how much, schools)

[ForYourLungsOnly]

out of all public universities in the US, Penn State ranked #1 in tuition in the 2009-2010 school year at $14,416, and Pitt came in at #2 at $14,154. This just goes to show how much of a hit state funding is having on our public universities. With my major at Pitt, I am paying close to $19,000 in tuition... I just graduated and plan to ne paying this ridiculoilus amount for a long time. Thoughts?

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

out of all public universities in the US, Penn State ranked #1 in tuition in the 2009-2010 school year at $14,416, and Pitt came in at #2 at $14,154. This just goes to show how much of a hit state funding is having on our public universities. With my major at Pitt, I am paying close to $19,000 in tuition... I just graduated and plan to ne paying this ridiculoilus amount for a long time. Thoughts?

You do get into the semantics of Pitt and State Penn being "state-related" schools as opposed to the other 14 state-owned schools. I'm not sure to what degree this difference makes the "public universities" comparison an apples to oranges one, even if only in part.

State owned schools have a tuition of around $6,500 I believe.

[gg]

Most Expensive Public Colleges - Cappex

They need to pay Nordenberg's salary of well over $500K.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Most Expensive Public Colleges - Cappex

They need to pay Nordenberg's salary of well over $500K.

Graham Spanier's at PSU was even higher.

Both schools along with Temple at this point are a kind of weird public/private partnership. Remember, Pitt was a completely private institution until the 1960s.

[Picksburg Stillers]

Blaming the state budget for Pitt and Penn State's tuition increases is bull**** at this point. The fact is both of those schools rely on state money for less than 10% of their total operating budgets. On the other hand, state-owned schools like IUP, Clarion, and Slippery Rock rely almost entirely on state money, so any cuts to state funding would impact them to a much greater extent. However, when you look at the numbers, Pitt and Penn State have raised tuition at more than double the rate of the state-owned schools. I'm sure at one time tuition raises were needed to offset a drop in state funding, but both schools have long since passed that point. The reason tuition keeps going up is because the schools need to finance their building projects and increasing administrative costs.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by Picksburg Stillers

Blaming the state budget for Pitt and Penn State's tuition increases is bull**** at this point. The fact is both of those schools rely on state money for less than 10% of their total operating budgets. On the other hand, state-owned schools like IUP, Clarion, and Slippery Rock rely almost entirely on state money, so any cuts to state funding would impact them to a much greater extent. However, when you look at the numbers, Pitt and Penn State have raised tuition at more than double the rate of the state-owned schools. I'm sure at one time tuition raises were needed to offset a drop in state funding, but both schools have long since passed that point. The reason tuition keeps going up is because the schools need to finance their building projects and increasing administrative costs.

This.

Plus, I think they're both keeping up with the perception of prestigious universities around the country, public and private. Tuition pricing is a tricky thing in that many perceive it's value to be what is charged. If both charged half of what they currently do, the education provided would be perceived by many as less valuable. This is far from the only factor, but it's there.

[UKyank]

Tuitions will continue to increase up until people stop paying it.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Tuitions will continue to increase up until people stop paying it.

Indeed. But college remains a very good investment (on average) even at these high tuition costs. So people will likely keep paying, and in fact pay even more.

[gg]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Tuitions will continue to increase up until people stop paying it.

I do think you are going to see more alternatives to college. I think college is a little dated in a way. If you are a graduating senior and you are very much into a particular field, you really would be better served to go to a school that focuses on it. For example, if you are into computer hardware, college is a waste of time. Website design is another type of field that college is a waste of time. Heck some of the kids graduation could teach the class. There are kids in my son's school that have Apps for Iphones roaming the halls. College for them is not the best use for their time IMHO. In many cases college is one big waste of money.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I do think you are going to see more alternatives to college. I think college is a little dated in a way. If you are a graduating senior and you are very much into a particular field, you really would be better served to go to a school that focuses on it. For example, if you are into computer hardware, college is a waste of time. Website design is another type of field that college is a waste of time. Heck some of the kids graduation could teach the class. There are kids in my son's school that have Apps for Iphones roaming the halls. College for them is not the best use for their time IMHO. In many cases college is one big waste of money.

Unfortunately there are many employers that are only concerned about where your diploma comes from; that line of thinking has to change first.