|
University Tuition Already Too High
(reprint of letter to The Blade editor by Douglas Oliver)
Introduction by Donald K. Wedding
Below is a reprint of a letter written by Dr. Douglas Oliver, Engineering Professor, to the Toledo Blade editor and published in The Blade Opinion Page on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Professor Oliver opposes the UT increase in student tuition and fees and presents some very sound arguments. The UT-AAUP also opposes increases in student tuition and fees. At a recent meeting of the UT Finance and Strategy committee, the faculty committee members voted against the budget that includes student tuition and fee increases. Several administrators including Dean Thomas Gutteridge of the College of Business and Innovation voted yes with reservations. Student Government President Matt Rubin is a member of the committee and abstained.
Reprinted Letter
University tuition already too high
Many of Ohio's public universities have announced tuition increases for next year ("OSU approves 3.3% hike in tuition," June 25). Tuition at Ohio's four-year public universities is already too high.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, five of the 25 highest-priced state universities are in Ohio. Only Pennsylvania has more high-priced public universities than Ohio.
Ohio's public universities tend to blame legislators for high tuition, often recommending that taxes be increased. Yet Ohio is said to have above-average tax rates by the Tax Foundation in Washington.
Ohio annually spends about $94 million of state revenues to subsidize nonresident students who seek master's degrees or medical degrees from state universities, according to the state Board of Regents. This extravagant expenditure might be justified if those students stayed in Ohio, but most of them leave shortly after graduation.
Ohio has lower-than-average rates of college education and below-average college graduation rates. While Ohio's undergraduates pay some of the highest in-state tuition rates in the nation, many nonresident students attend Ohio's state universities tuition-free.
Ohio could substantially lower the cost of tuition at its universities by redirecting these funds to subsidize the education of Ohio residents.
Ohio's universities should welcome nonresident students. But Ohio's taxpayers should not be forced to pay $94 million annually to subsidize them.
Douglas Oliver
We invite your comments on Professor Oliver's excellent letter to the Toledo Blade.
Link to Toledo Blade
| 
