https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/santacruzcitycalifornia indicates that median household income in Santa Cruz is $70,102, and median per capita income is $36,712.
Not six figures (though people on this forum often seem to think that income below six figures is “poor”), but more than the graduate student stipends.
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China is the most technologically advanced country in the world other than the US. People who sneer at the top tier of Chinese universities are often motivated by xenophobic tendencies.
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@roethlisburger Oh please, I’m not sneering at Chinese universities but Chinese culture of intellectual (and artistic) freedom. Something I know about having spent time in Chinese universities and on the east side of the Iron Curtain, back when it still existed.
That’s only half right. Many internationals moving into CA do have a college+ degree, but then many also have <a high school education. Internationals also tend to be poor, on average.
But my point was about the state’s ability to fund higher $$ to UC on a long-term basis. For that, we need to continue to grow peeps and continue to have higher (taxable) incomes. Otherwise, CA will experience a similar budget situation as other non-growing states. (gotta payoff all of those bond propositions* that we keep passing, and public sector pensions.)
https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/
*I was really surprised that the recent #13 failed, as it had a huge ad budget – highlighting nurses, firefighters and teachers — usually a winning formula.
^^
I got the information about higher educated people moving to CA here.
“The people who are moving to California, from other states and abroad, tend to have higher education levels, which is correlated with fewer births.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/07/us/california-population-migration-slowing.html
and here:
Although California has had net out-migration among most demographic groups, it has gained among those with higher incomes ($110,000 per year or more) and higher levels of education (graduate degrees).
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/265
@ucbalumnus established in #140 that this isn’t the case. So, the fact that the professors aren’t offering to subsidize TA’s speaks volumes.
But this brings up an important point. Why should taxpayers be funding a school in such a high COL area? Is there any reason for UCSC’s mission to be located in Santa Cruz? Why not disband and let the other UC’s and CSU’s absorb?
The most relevant fact shared in the US census “quick-facts” cited by @ucbalumnus in post #140 above:
Under Housing:
Median Rent: $1,797
(If utilities are added in, then median total rent & utilities should be about $2,100 per month. TAs are paid $2,400 per month, plus health insurance, childcare allowance, and free tuition & fees. When totaled up, the TAs current income may approach, equal or exceed the average household income of $70,000 for the area depending upon the value of free tuition & fees. Especially so for non-residents.)
And this is just median rent; half of the rental units in the area rent for less. Although not stated, this “median rent” is probably for a 2 bedroom unit which suggests that one can share expenses with a roommate.
Non cash compensation like medical, educational, and other benefits is unlikely to be included in the household income stats, so the comparison you make is not apples to apples.
But $2,400 a month plus waiver of tuition & fee, and childcare allowance / reimbursement is. And these can add up to $70,000.
P.S. Agree that it is not “apples to apples”, but it is still relevant in terms of dollars.
Deserving its own post:
US Census states median rent in the area is $1,797.
TAs monthly pay = $2,400.
Strike issue = cost of housing in the area.
TAs receive tuition & fees, health insurance, childcare, and enough pay to cover rent & utilities.
If not enough, get a roommate or ask your spouse / significant other to contribute.
Plus, the TAs are under a recently negotiated union contract agreed to after good faith bargaining which contains a “no-strike clause”.
The $70k median household may be getting subsidized employer medical insurance ($7+k individual, $20+k family). Other benefits of value may also be received. Some employers also give tuition reimbursement for employees also attending school.
So you would have to account for all of these non cash compensation in the median household if you want an apples to apples comparison.
In any case $2,400 per month for 9 months is $22,600; for 12 months $28,800. Medical is probably cheaper for younger PhD students than the general work force, but let’s use $7k here. UCSC graduate tuition is $14k resident , $29k nonresident (first year; then most convert to resident). So it is a stretch to add up all cash and non cash compensation of UCSC TAs to even get close to $70k cash only median household income.
UCSC grad tuition is about $34,000 according to one source & $28,910 according to another source. for non-residents (I only checked “education” & “engineering”). These non-residents would not get resident tuition, presumably, if the non-resident tuition & fees had not been waived for their first year (if you are correct about subsequent years being charged at the resident rate).
$34,000 non-resident tuition plus $28,800 plus $7,000 health insurance = $69,800. Add in childcare if applicable and the compensation exceeds $70,000.
If the $29,000 non-resident rate is correct, then:
$29,000 non-resident tuition & fees, $28,800 annual pay if received for 12 months, $7,000 health insurance if assumption is correct = about $65,000. Add in child care benefit and the number is at or near $70,000.
Nevertheless, the point is that the median cost of housing is $1,797 per month, and that the monthly pay of $2,400 per month exceeds the monthly cost of rent & utilities.
You can find income statistics based on IRS data and most non-cash compensation does get included in those household income stats, including most educational benefits for those who aren’t university employees.
It may be the article is wrong and not most Americans. The CPBB study says funding declined from 2008-2017. However, a question about the past 10 years would have covered 2010-2019.
I wonder if the difference between the $29,000 non-resident tuition & fees rate and $34,000 is the inclusion of cost of mandatory health insurance coverage.
It’s not a full time job, and you are comparing full time jobs of $70k per year. The grad student is also a student, which is on his time (not paid). How many hours per week is the TA teaching, having office hours, grading papers? The TA is getting medical insurance and most part time jobs don’t offer that (fully funded too; most of us in the work place have to contribute to our health care).
These TAs chose UCSC and agreed to the terms of the contract. Other students who couldn’t afford UCSC ended up at other schools and may not have received as much or may have received more. It’s the deal these TAs made.
https://financialaid.ucsc.edu/cost-to-attend/graduate-costs.html
Also, click on “off campus housing rates” for a chart covering one & two bedroom rental rates for all or most UC locations. UC-Santa Cruz is the second most expensive housing after UC-San Francisco. (Not sure whether or not these rental rates include utilities.)
And, yes, my suspicion was correct that the $34,000 non-resident tuition & fees rate included the mandatory health insurance coverage.
Do TAs work for 12 months or just for 9 or 10 months per year ?
Is it easy for TAs from out-of-state to obtain resident status after one year for tuition purposes ?
Not only extremely easy, but expected as it saves the Dept tuition fees in years 2+.
https://financialaid.ucsc.edu/cost-to-attend/graduate-costs.html
Chart estimates an academic year budget of almost $60,000 for non-resident grad students. Subtract $34,000 for non-resident tuition & fees plus mandatory health insurance and the difference is $26,000. Ten months of TA pay equals $24,000. Difference is $2,000. UC-Santa Cruz offered TAs a $2,500 supplement which was refused by the striking TAs.