Quote :

"The biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, which evaluates how well higher education is serving the public, handed out Fs for affordability to 49 states, up from 43 two years ago. Only California received a passing grade in the category, a C, thanks to its relatively inexpensive community colleges. The report card uses a range of measurements to give states grades, from A to F, on the performance of their public and private colleges. The affordability grade is based on how much of the average family's income it costs to go to college. Almost everywhere, that figure is up, according to the survey. Only two states - New York and Tennessee - have made even minimal improvements since 2000, but they're still considered to be failing. Everywhere else, families must fork over a greater percentage of their income to pay for college. In Illinois, the average cost attending a public four-year college has jumped from 19 percent of family's income in 1999-2000 to 35 percent in 2007-2008, and in Pennsylvania, from 29 percent to 41 percent. Low-income families have been hardest hit. Nationally, enrollment at a local public college costs families in the top fifth of income just 9 percent of their earnings, while families from the bottom fifth pay 55 percent - up from 39 percent in 1999-2000. [...] States fared modestly better in other categories such as participation, where no state failed and about half the states earned As or Bs - comparable to the report two years ago. One reason for the uptick is that more students are taking rigorous college-prep courses, the study found. In Texas, for instance, the percentage of high schoolers taking at least one upper-level science course has nearly tripled from 20 percent to 56 percent. But better preparation for college hasn't translated into better enrollment or completion, with only two states - Arizona and Iowa - receiving an A for participation in higher education. And the discrepancy in enrollment between states is still great: Forty-four percent of young Iowans are in college, while just 18 percent of their counterparts in Alaska - one of three states to get an F in the category - are enrolled. Callan said the United States is at best standing still while other countries pass it in areas like college enrollment and completion. And as higher education fails to keep up with population growth, the specter lurks of new generations less educated than their Baby Boomer predecessors. "The educational strength of the American population is in the group that's about to retire," Callan said. "In the rest of the world it's the group that's gone to college since 1990.""

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/4067095/

so, this begs the question, how does nc measure up:

Preparation B-
Participation D+
Affordability F (so much for being free of expense)
Completion B-
Benefits C+
Learning I

the full report is at http://tinyurl.com/5u424q

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 3:24 AM. Reason : words]

12/3/2008 3:15:19 AM

That is a bit surprising, well the affordability ranking. I always considered NCSU a damn good bargain.

12/3/2008 5:22:01 AM

^same here

Quote :

"Low-income families have been hardest hit. Nationally, enrollment at a local public college costs families in the top fifth of income just 9 percent of their earnings, while families from the bottom fifth pay 55 percent - up from 39 percent in 1999-2000. "

So is the 55% taking into account the financial aid? Cause if you're that poor you're definitely gonna get a pell grant and some other money to help you pay.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 7:48 AM. Reason : nm, on the full report it says after financial aid]

12/3/2008 7:36:18 AM

I don't understand how 49 states failed.

Does not Georgia and a few other states actually give free tuition to students who make a B average or better in high school.

Heaven forbid Tyronne put down the basketball to get good grades in high school; or Billy Bob care about his science book just as much as his pick up truck and gun collection.

12/3/2008 9:26:59 AM

here are GA's reasons for the F in affordability

Quote :

"Poor and working-class families must devote 40% of their income, even after aid (including HOPE scholarships), to pay for costs at public four-year colleges. The state makes almost no investment in need based financial aid."

the program ^ is referring to is the HOPE scholarship

Quote :

"Compared with best-performing states, families in Georgia devote a large share of family income, even after financial aid, to attend public two- and four-year colleges and universities. These two sectors enroll 82% of college students in the state. Georgia’s investment in need based financial aid is very low when compared with top performing states, and the state does not offer low-priced college opportunities. Undergraduate students borrowed on average $4,653 in 2007. In Georgia, 36% of students are enrolled in community colleges and 46% in public four-year colleges and universities."

it costs more out of pocket in GA to go to community college? that sure seems backwards

Quote :

"Those who are striving to reach or stay in the middle class — the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes — earn on average $18,514. If a student from such a family were to attend a community college in the state, their net cost to attend college would represent about 29% of their income annually. Tuition, room, and board: $9,016 Financial aid received: -$3,639 Net college cost: $5,377 Percent of income: 29% If the same student were to attend a public four-year college in the state, their net cost to attend college would represent about 19% of their income annually. Tuition, room, and board: $11,159 Financial aid received: -$7,712 Net college cost: $3,447 Percent of income: 19%"

12/3/2008 9:50:03 AM

free higher education is not a right. there HAS to be an investment to weed out the people who would drag down institutions to the level of grown up public high schools.

12/3/2008 9:58:34 AM

free higher education is not a right.

12/3/2008 10:13:12 AM

Why shouldn't we have free (or at least more affordable) higher education?? And what do you mean "weeding out"?? There are still academic qualifications. You're just saying we should weed out the poor?? How is that right?

12/3/2008 10:24:49 AM

my tax dollar goes to pay for everyone to get a high school diploma.


getting a college diploma is something that will benefit you in the long run (an investment.)





if someone isn't willing to invest in their future, that is their business, but they have no place in a college taking a spot away from someone who IS willing to make that investment.

12/3/2008 10:28:13 AM

I'd rather go to a school full of poor smart people than rich dumb people.

12/3/2008 10:44:00 AM

Quote :

"if someone isn't willing to invest in their future, that is their business, but they have no place in a college taking a spot away from someone who IS willing to make that investment."

So punish smart kids who want to succeed because their parents don't have enough money to invest??

12/3/2008 10:46:18 AM

No, not "punish smart kids"

Smart kids should be able to get scholarships and at the very least will be able to get college loans. Your education is the best investment you can make. I will counter to this and say if you go into a program that your vastly not qualified for and pay top dollar for it, well then you aren't a smart kid.

I have done a rare thing myself and paid for my masters degree on my own b/c I wanted to do it full time and without a prof breathing down my neck to grade his stuff (so I had freedom)

I consider it an extraordinarily rewarding investment since I'm making almost 45% more base salary than what I was as just an undergrad. A lot of that goes into hard work b/c I also happen to know that I'm making 31% more than a counter part at the same place who decided to drop out of his PhD program before he even got his masters...

My student loans SHOULD be paid off in 3 months... according to my budget.

12/3/2008 11:31:07 AM

Quote :

"So punish smart kids who want to succeed because their parents don't have enough money to invest??"

it's called student loans.

12/3/2008 11:37:31 AM

With the way our economy is going...student loans are getting easier and easier to pay off right now...

12/3/2008 11:44:25 AM

Quote :

"free higher education is not a right. there HAS to be an investment to weed out the people who would drag down institutions to the level of grown up public high schools."

Paying for higher education is not just an investment for an individual it is also an investment for the state/country. Therefore it is one of a few things I do not mind shelling out tax dollars for. Still though you are right an education is not a right. Therefore those getting their education on Uncle Sam or the State's dime should be held to strict academic criteria. GPA 3.0 or higher for full funding. Perhaps if they screw up one semeseter they get a warning and if they mess up again they lose funding. To ensure of course we are not just paying for them to party and dick around for four years. If they can not handle the academic standard than they should not be in school and allow some other disadvantaged student who really does care have a chance.

Quote :

"at the very least will be able to get college loans"

anyone can get student loans. Hell Donald Trumps kids can get student loans. What is bullshit is that i never qualified for need based grants b.c of my parents incomes eventhough they never gave me a dime for tuition. Not until 2007 when my dad got laid off did i finally get some help otherwise it was all loans.

On the otherhand i am friends with a group of 3 brothers who had their college tuition paid for by "need" based grants. Since their mother had minimal reported income. Yet they lived in the same middle class home as my family. My friends mother pretty much lived off her rich daddy who paid the mortgage/bills/and expenses. I guess they found a loop hole in the system.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 11:48 AM. Reason : a]

12/3/2008 11:45:14 AM

Quote :

"if someone isn't willing to invest in their future, that is their business, but they have no place in a college taking a spot away from someone who IS willing to make that investment."

if only there was something in place to weed out dumbasses like you.

If you don't have the grades you don't have the right to higher education. This should have 0% to do with your class status.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 11:51 AM. Reason : .]

12/3/2008 11:50:37 AM

Quote :

"Paying for higher education is not just an investment for an individual it is also an investment for the state/country."

That too.

12/3/2008 11:50:42 AM

The government's primary reason to hand out student loans and grants is not because they are so humanitarian/altruistic/nice and want us to all be happy with nice jobs................

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 11:52 AM. Reason : a]

12/3/2008 11:52:20 AM

Quote :

"if someone isn't willing to invest in their future, that is their business, but they have no place in a college taking a spot away from someone who IS willing to make that investment."

So instead we should have a college full of rich pricks who doesn't care about college and is only there because mommy and daddy are making him be there. Sure, he did have to get accepted . . . but anyone with half a brain can get through HS easy enough with good enough grades, and throw in a forced activity or two and you're in.

Quote :

"GPA 3.0 or higher for full funding."

That would be too low of a minimum, I'd want them to actually work for it if they were going on my dime. Anyone who actually tries can be easily in the 3.4 range or higher.

12/3/2008 9:23:31 PM

^ FUCK that a 3.0 is reasonable standard for financial need tuition payments by the gov't.

Tell any engineering student that anyone "who tries" can EZly get in the 3.4 range. The only thing that would happen by having a GPA standard this high would be to encourage students to go into bullshit majors like PRT, communications, or PolySci b.c getting a 3.4 in these programs is 10x easier than if they went into something like biology/engineering/physics. Thus eliminating part of the "investment" aspect of the gov't paying for their tuition.

Even if u are an engineer, give yourself a cookie that getting A's in engineering is so easy. Not everyone is a super genius like you, forgoes their social life to sit in the library all weekend, or perhaps some students have to work in order to pay for living expenses and thus may only get a B+ in a class.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 11:02 PM. Reason : L]

12/3/2008 11:01:06 PM

GRRRR, THIS ISSUE ANGERS ME!

12/3/2008 11:24:30 PM

I played WoW WAY too much, wrote 2 albums and played tons of shows with my band, among other time consuming things and ended up with a 3.2 in MechEng. BUT most of my Eng grades werent that good(lots of Cs heh), It was my non Eng classes (esp first 2 years) that were mostly As that saved my GPA. Otherwise I would have been screwed

12/3/2008 11:38:20 PM