College Tuition Rises Again

Well, it's happening again. Colleges all across Texas are raising their tuition rates again. The colleges say they must raise the tuition to remain competitive with other colleges nationwide.

Back in 2003, the Republican leadership in Texas decided that funding a college education for Texas students was not one of their priorities. They decided the money would be better spent helping their rich corporate buddies. Since that time, state spending on colleges have not nearly kept up with the need.

Since they were no longer going to adequately fund the colleges and universities, they decided to dump the costs on the students. They removed the regulations on tuitions and fixed it so the colleges could raise the tuition when they wanted. Since 2003, college tuition statewide has risen 40%. That is a huge jump for only a five year period, and it all goes on the backs of already cash-strapped students.

Is it any wonder that even some middle-class students are finding they can no longer afford college. For the poor and working classes, this avenue to the American Dream is rapidly closing. Grants have not kept up with the rapidly riising costs of a college education, and loans can now put someone in debt for many years (and possibly ruin their credit rating in this failing economy).

The Republicans have fixed the economy to where only the rich can get ahead. But the failure to adequately fund education (especially at the college level) was particularly shortsighted. Many times, there is little financial return on government spending -- we just do it because it's the right thing to do.

However, spending on college educations for citizens is not only the right thing to do, it is also very cost-effective and revenue enhancing. When a person gets a college education, they make a lot more money than they would otherwise. That means they also pay a lot more in taxes. Over the long run, the extra taxes add up to a lot more than the money spent on educating that person.

If our state leaders were smart, they would fully fund our colleges and make a college education for students very cheap, or better yet, FREE. This would have the dual effect of bettering lives and increasing tax revenue (without having to raise taxes).

But I don't expect our Republican leadership to do this. They are far too busy filling the wallets of their rich corporate masters and don't have the time or inclination to help ordinary Texans.

The college presidents are probably telling the truth when they say they must raise tuitions to compete with other national colleges. But it's only because the short-sighted Republican leadership refuses to adequately fund our colleges.