Obama Seen As Most Likely To Curb Tuition Costs

Parents Forum
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<p>As Harvard and other elite universities takes steps to rein in rising tuition costs, Americans continue to cite the ever increasing cost of a bachelor’s degree as the most pressing issue in higher education.</p>

<p>According to a recent poll conducted by The Chronicle of Higher Education and the Gallup Organization, 42 percent of Americans stated that it is “extremely important” for the next president of the United States to address rising college costs.</p>

<p>The issue was deemed the most important in higher education, above the quality of education. But out of the nine major issues presented, including the Iraq war and the economy, higher education was the lowest in priority for those polled.</p>

<p>The survey asked respondents which presidential candidate they expected would do most to help families deal with increasing tuition costs.</p>

<p>Barack Obama came out on top, with 32 percent of Americans rating him first. He was followed by Hillary Clinton with 19 percent support and John McCain with 10 percent. Twenty-nine percent of respondents replied that they “don’t know.”</p>

<p>Jarret A. Zafran '09, the president of the Harvard College Democrats, said that he thought it no surprise that both of the Democratic presidential candidates beat McCain in the poll.</p>

<p>“Obama is defined as the candidate of the future and a representative of the younger generation,” Zafran said.</p>

<p>“He is more in tune with student opinion today, which is why he would consider controlling the cost of higher education as a higher priority.”</p>

<p>But Harvard Republican Club President Caleb L. Weatherl '10 said he disagreed with the survey’s results regarding Obama.</p>

<p>“Dealing with the costs of higher education is an important issue that is inextricably linked to the health of our economy,” Weatherl said.</p>

<p>“While Senator Obama may be able to give a great speech on the costs of a college education, his policies will hurt the very families that they aim to help by weakening the economy.”</p>

<p>Weatherl said Obama’s plans to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire and to enact policies that would “fail to allow free trade” would weaken the economy, forcing recent college graduates further into debt.</p>

<p>Although the issue of tuition costs was ranked most important among issues related to higher education, respondents were nearly equally divided over whether the federal government should intervene to control tuition at private and public colleges.</p>

<p>Forty-four percent of those surveyed said that the most effective action the federal government could take to lower costs nationwide would be to require colleges with above-average tuition increases to explain why their costs are higher. </p>

<p>[Obama</a> Seen As Most Likely To Curb Tuition Costs, - CBS News](<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/03/politics/uwire/main3993009.shtml]Obama”>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/03/politics/uwire/main3993009.shtml)</p>

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<p>It’s surveys like these that makes me want to require Macro Econ in college. There is absolutely nothing any President can do about private college’ costs.</p>

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<p>what do you mean? he’s said he’d give a 4,000 a year tuition credit to anyone who volunteered for community service. that’s private or public.</p>

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<p>How much does it cost to attend Trinity?</p>

<p>The cost of attendance for 2007 - 2008 is as follows. Tuition: $35,110; Room/Board: $9,420; Fees: $1,420; Student Activity Fee: $340; Total cost: $46,290.</p>

<p>This is before laptop, travel, healthcare, clothing, toiletries, or a Sprite. </p>

<p>$4k is like spitting in the ocean (but spit away. Anything helps.) . Someone needs to do something NOW about the coming student loan fiasco which is looming as lenders leave the game.</p>

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<p>amen Curm
the stuff is going to hit the fan as early as next Fall’s semester for parents counting on student loans to finance those tuition costs.Sallie Mae has already warned it won’t be buying the bundled loans from original sources(secondary market breakdown='s primary market lenders being unable to keep giving loans). Parents beware.Your FA estimator from the desired college may say "____loan "on it but they cannot guarantee you’ll be able to borrow that amount.</p>

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<p>How much do you want to bet that as soon as that $4K credit comes in (if it ever does) colleges will raise their tuition by $4K? This does not help the students, only the colleges, and not the ones with the large endowments either.</p>

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<p>freetense:</p>

<p>There is a BIG difference betwen awarding federal money and actually “lowering” tuition costs…awarding federal money will increase the national debt which today’s college kids will have to pay back with interest. Hmmmmmm.</p>

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<p>With all due respect to students, who cares what they think if it doesn’t make economic sense? They would like cars, and cell phones, and beer to be more affordable too. Barring a federal takeover of higher education, no president (or congress) will ever control the cost of college. Colleges will control the cost of college. Call it the False Hope credit.</p>

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<p>And, undoubtedly, the $4000 credit will phase out for kids from “rich” families making more than $40,000 per year.</p>

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<p>Psshaw!! It’ll bepart of the new “play to the middle class” strategy. It’ll phase out over $42,000. ;)</p>

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Ultimately, if enough people aren’t able to afford to beg or borrow enough to pay the costs of expensive private colleges and thus choose less expensive privates and publics, maybe supply and demand will kick in and some of the expensive colleges will need to reduce their charges. Of course, HYPS will probably never want for students willing to pay what they feel like charging but there are thousands of other colleges in the game but they already seem to have their own means to attract those who can’t afford to pay.</p>

<p>Private colleges should be able to charge what they want and the government should stay out of it.</p>

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<p>Not to put too fine a point on it but Congress can do something about it (if they chose ) .They can remove the college’s tax exempt status if they don’t spend down some of their endowment to make college more affordable. Endowments have risen by incredible numbers while tuition is continuing to go up. Just like other “non-profits” the government will remove their tax advantaged standing and treat then like any other business. </p>

<p>The cynic in me says that is why we are seeing the “play to the middleclass” (however that is defined by the college) new financial aid programs. No loans and the like. Those are voters , son. Not only that , they are voters that vote. ;)</p>

<p>I’d rather see a more equitable system first. The need based system even at eite schools is of scant help to many (I didn’t say all) middle class students. They are still a kidney a year out of our reach.</p>

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<p>I really don’t see the Feds getting too involved.</p>