8th Semester Free? $2,500 Cash Back? Colleges Offer Deals

[Roger_Dooley]

<p>As the twin forces of unaffordability and reduced demand come together, some liberal arts colleges are starting to cut prices. And, just as automakers have done, instead of reducing the sticker price, these colleges are offering incentives.</p>

<p>The Wall Street Journal reports that mid-tier, tuition-dependent private liberal arts colleges are the ones most likely to be playing “let’s make a deal:”

Buy seven semesters, get one free. Apply today, get $2,500 cash back. Free classes after four years…</p>

<p>…Spring Arbor University in Michigan agreed in February to pick up a portion of the tab for future students who land low-paying jobs after graduation; that offer will apply to those working 30 hours a week and earning up to $37,000.

[Liberal-Arts</a> Colleges Dangle Deals to Woo Students - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324539404578343132132375670.html]Liberal-Arts”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324539404578343132132375670.html)</p>

<p>This may be a welcome trend for families, but the squeeze on colleges and universities is likely to worsen as demographic shifts continue and, eventually, when competition from other teaching methods, like MOOCs, kicks in.</p>

<p>Have you found any unusual deals being offered?</p>

[Sally_Rubenstone]

<p>Similar opportunities have been around for a while. So it doesn’t surprise me that more colleges are considering value-added options to lure students from competitors.</p>

<p>For instance, U. of Rochester has had the “Take Five Scholars Program” for as long as I can remember (which, admittedly, these days isn’t very long ) It allows tip-top students to elect a free semester (or even an entire year) to explore an area of interest that the student didn’t have sufficient time to pursue while earning the Bachelor’s degree. See [Take</a> Five Scholars : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester](<a href=“Students : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester”>Students : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester)</p>

<p>Clark University (Worcester, MA) has a tuition-free fifth-year Master’s program for eligible students. See [Earn</a> a 5th Year Tuition-free Master’s Degree at Clark University](<a href=“http://www.clarku.edu/undergraduate-admissions/majors-academics/tuition-free-masters.cfm]Earn”>http://www.clarku.edu/undergraduate-admissions/majors-academics/tuition-free-masters.cfm) According to the Clark Web site, 25% of graduating seniors participate. I visited Clark last month and had a nice chat with a senior history major who was going to stick around to earn his Master’s thanks to this program. It seemed to be a great deal, especially in the current job market.</p>

[oldindie]

<p>The reality of the situation. Most liberal arts programs at nearly ALL universities are in trouble. They have many expensive tenured Professors, who cannot be fired AND a shrinking pool of families who are willing to spend $200K for their kids to get degrees in useless majors. The Presidents need to find money quick, and figure out how to keep unionized Gender Studies Profs busy. </p>

<p>Today’s student parents, children of the 60s and 70s are seeing college through very old glasses. You get a degree in ANYTHING, and you can find a job. Might as well have fun, party down, stay stoned, as there are PLENTY of jobs for grads. Well, Jerry is dead, the Beatles broke up, and there are no jobs for Sociology or Womens Studies grads. When the employees at your neighborhood Starbucks all have Master’s Degrees from top universities, the education system in America has issues…</p>

<p>What are colleges to do? Marketing… and hoping that Washington will forgive student debt so they can go back to pitching ‘holistic’ educations. 6 semesters for the price of 5! Free car with your degree! What is next?</p>

<p>The days of college for college sake are over. You need a path to self sufficiency. The Parents generation has not come to terms with the reality their kids will face. A form of child abuse, I believe. </p>

<p>General ed classes are good and well for everyone. But, as much as I enjoy studying literature, it wasn’t going to pay the bills. Engineering did. </p>

<p>What is next? On-line study and independent testing. Stanford, MIT, UC system have all made major moves in this area. The traditional college education is approaching impossible to make work economically. The world is changing. The people posting here have kid in or near college age. We are the LAST of a breed. In ten years, people will look at you sideways when you say you spend $200K for a private school education. The colleges that still exist will be associated with MIT, Stanford, or other major schools, and will have video classrooms for lectures and proctored areas for tests. Professors? Few. TAs? lots, and they will be non-union. </p>

<p>For a preview, check out the work at Kahn Academy. Geared toward pre-college, but facinating none the less.</p>

[swimsoc2013]

<p>If you are accepted into the Honors Fellows Program (15% of the incoming class) at Lake Forest College (IL), you receive one free class per semester and are eligible to apply for a paid summer research fellowship after freshman year.</p>