"You do bash your alma mater often here on CC. "
Yes–damn straight I do. Which also doesn’t mean I don’t love the school and want it to do well. I spent four years on the campus. This makes me a bit more qualified to comment, as I have a 35+ year association with the school. I’m guessing yours is less than 4. Sorry to be snarky, but I have a bit more history and insight on the school than you do.
If alums and others don’t criticize the school, where it is deserved, then it will never change. For an analogy, everyone that continued to buy GMs when their quality sucked did not do the company any favors. It’s only when they lost market share, and they nearly went bankrupt, did the quality improve. Sometimes hard love is required. We are, after all, The Leaders and Best.
“And it’s actually 9.3% and here’s the footnote from that study:”
Sorry if i was .7% off. Consider it a rounding error. NEARLY 10% come from families that make $630,000+. I stand by my assertion.
“They also have increased need-based aid to OOS students. And they’ve increased their ranking partly based on the increase in Pell grants.”
Read this article and tell me I’m still wrong. It represents many more families and students than you know:
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/being-poor-rich-u-m-campus-still-struggle-school-broadens-reach
"Why is UMich $15,000 more than Wisconsin? Higher selectivity of both instate and OOS students, higher ranked programs, supply, demand, etc.
Not true. UNC is a much more difficult school to get into OOS. UT Austin is as well. My DD was rejected at UT Austin, and admitted to Michigan this year. Both have lower costs of attendance. I think you mistake selectivity for high cost. There are a number of places that have higher selectivity than Michigan, and their financial aid packages are much larger for upper middle class families.
And UMichigan isn’t worried about a governor significantly cutting funding to the school, like UWisc (or the UC’s for that matter) is going through recently:"
Partially true. Walker was an idiot–we agree. The GOP-legislature in Michigan wants to cut funding there too. (less than the rate of inflation, which is a cut)
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/report-funding-cuts-high-tuition-spawn-cost-crisis-michigan-colleges
“Between the 40+ Top 10 programs in LSA, plus the CoE, CS, Nursing, etc., UMich has a plethora of elite programs. I know the math program is #12, if my memory serves.”
I don’t deny that Michigan has great academics. You won’t see me criticize Michigan academics ever. But many schools have great departments, and so does Wisconsin. It still doesn’t justify the outrageous high cost at my school.
As a side note, I was recently let go from my job due to the Coronavirus. Called Michigan financial aid and explained the situation to them. They told me if I only earned $20,000 of income this year, they would likely be able to give us a $16,000 break off of tuition. It would still be close to $54,000/year. Some break.
Am I upset with the school for its attitude towards financial aid? Yes. Do I still think it’s a great school? Yes.
I think you confuse my criticism of the Administration for hating the school. It’s the opposite. If I didn’t love the school, I would care less.