Comments on: Paying For Three Kids To Go To College Is Going To Be Expensive http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/ Debt Reduction Rocks - We Are Living Debt Free! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:09:10 +0000 hourly 1 By: Funny about Money http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-90668 Funny about Money Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:34:58 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/#comment-90668 This is very wise. As a university faculty member, one of the things I find especially annoying about higher education in the United States is the amount of debt young people are forced to assume to get degrees, even at undistinguished public institutions. I happen to work for one of those, a vast learning factory whose leadership has never understood the distinction between quality and quantity. Regular jumps in tuition vastly outstrip inflation; the cost of textbooks is shameful. My dean recently told me the Powers That Be want to convert my research assistants to hourly workers so that the college won't have to cover tuition waivers and health insurance. And the Hot New Thing is to tack a surcharge on specific programs perceived to be in demand among students. After an ambitious PR campaign to popularize an interdisciplinary and highly questionable "master's of liberal arts" program, the university added a $12,000 surcharge for the privilege of enrolling in a program that will leave you eminently unemployable. When costs go up to the point where students are strapped for decades after they graduate, it's not surprising young people no longer value a broad education but instead see the university as a place to get high-priced vocational training. This is very wise.

As a university faculty member, one of the things I find especially annoying about higher education in the United States is the amount of debt young people are forced to assume to get degrees, even at undistinguished public institutions. I happen to work for one of those, a vast learning factory whose leadership has never understood the distinction between quality and quantity.

Regular jumps in tuition vastly outstrip inflation; the cost of textbooks is shameful. My dean recently told me the Powers That Be want to convert my research assistants to hourly workers so that the college won’t have to cover tuition waivers and health insurance. And the Hot New Thing is to tack a surcharge on specific programs perceived to be in demand among students. After an ambitious PR campaign to popularize an interdisciplinary and highly questionable “master’s of liberal arts” program, the university added a $12,000 surcharge for the privilege of enrolling in a program that will leave you eminently unemployable.

When costs go up to the point where students are strapped for decades after they graduate, it’s not surprising young people no longer value a broad education but instead see the university as a place to get high-priced vocational training.

]]> By: Sam http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-90357 Sam Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:34:36 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/#comment-90357 Note re: lottery scholarships. Here in Fla. we have a similar program called Bright Futures which has been very popular, so popular that they are now considering making it harder to qualify for the program. Note re: lottery scholarships. Here in Fla. we have a similar program called Bright Futures which has been very popular, so popular that they are now considering making it harder to qualify for the program.

]]> By: Adfecto http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-90054 Adfecto Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:28:19 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/#comment-90054 I commend you on maxing the ESA accounts. We don't have kids yet but the future bill for college is mind blowing. Inflation will cut a big chunk out of what you manage to save as well. In recent years the increase in tuition has been at least double to rate of normal inflation. Unless something changes on the political front your 8% annual return will just barely beat the growth in tuition. That's a scary thought. I commend you on maxing the ESA accounts. We don’t have kids yet but the future bill for college is mind blowing. Inflation will cut a big chunk out of what you manage to save as well. In recent years the increase in tuition has been at least double to rate of normal inflation. Unless something changes on the political front your 8% annual return will just barely beat the growth in tuition. That’s a scary thought.

]]> By: fandd http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-89912 fandd Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:22:54 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/#comment-89912 Another option that I saw a lot of when I lived in New York State but not so much in Georgia, is for students to spend their first two years at a community college and then transfer to a private university or a large public university. Folks only care about where you graduated from, not where you spent your first two years. Another option that I saw a lot of when I lived in New York State but not so much in Georgia, is for students to spend their first two years at a community college and then transfer to a private university or a large public university. Folks only care about where you graduated from, not where you spent your first two years.

]]> By: NCN http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-89899 NCN Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:57:17 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/2008/02/18/paying-for-three-kids-to-go-to-college-is-going-to-be-expensive/#comment-89899 @R.J - It's my understanding that funds can be transferred from one sibling to another - so, even if one kid doesn't go to college, the money in that account can go to another kid... also, the money can be used for pre-college education expenses, like stuff for high school... @Brandon - ESAs offer more investment options - I can pick and choose the funds I want to purchase... @R.J – It’s my understanding that funds can be transferred from one sibling to another – so, even if one kid doesn’t go to college, the money in that account can go to another kid… also, the money can be used for pre-college education expenses, like stuff for high school…

@Brandon – ESAs offer more investment options – I can pick and choose the funds I want to purchase…

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