Study Flunks 49 States

[SubGod22]

Only one state passes the college affordability test. I guess this is up from 43 two years ago. Still, it's sad that higher education is so expensive.

[RampageWSU]

You're telling me! I start payment on 60k worth of loans (undergrad + grad) in Jan. :-x

[ABC]

Whose fault it?

I think education administration tends to skate w/o a lot of blame.

Professors teach less, there are more buildings etc.

It isn't all b/c govt funding is less. And actually the proliferation of students loans has allowed colleges to increase their cost without much reaction from the market.

[rrshock]

And if people thinks tuition is bad in Kansas, take a look at NC. When I was in school, it cost $10K/year to attend UNC, and that was if you were a resident of NC.

[SB Shock]

Re: Study Flunks 49 States

Only one state passes the college affordability test. I guess this is up from 43 two years ago. Still, it's sad that higher education is so expensive.

Terrible journalism. 1st really what is the point of the article except to spread negatism. 2nd it does not even have a link to the study. The affordability parameter they cite is really a parameter looking at the increase in cost of eduction relative to other metrics. This Is less about affordability than cost increase. Only 7 states showed a decrease in participation, all other show a increase in participation. This would indicate that education is affordable because if it wasn't then you would not see more participating.

Relative to the world, the US was ranked 7th in world in participation at 34% (Korea was No. 1 at 53%, France 31%, England 22%, Germany 25%).

Any time the government is involved in subsidizing something (e.g. financial aid), whatever that industry is will see their cost go up because people/organizations are always going to be greedy in getting their part of the pie. I'm not saying financial aid is bad either, it's probably one of the best investments our government makes, but we shouldn't be suprised when the cost of that said eduction increases.

But here is some real information:

1. US is ranked 7th in world in number of 18-24 enrolled in college (34%)
2. US is ranked 2nd in the world with % of adults (35-64) holding a associates degree or higher (44%) [Japan 35%, England 28%, Italy 12%]

3. US is ranked in the middle of the pack with only 18% of 100 students enrolled earn their degrees. Japan leads at 26%, Korea is 18%


KS is given a grade of B in Preparation for college (declining trend)

93% of whites have H.S. credentials (diploma, GED, etc)
79% of hispanics have H.S. credentials


KS is given a grade of B- in Participation for college (is on the increase)

Hispanic population in kansas is drawing this number down.


KS is given a grade of B in College Completion (is on the increase)

53% receive bachelors in 6 years
41% of hispanics receive bachelors in 6 years


KS is givne a grade of C+ in Benifits (is on the increase)

34% of whites have degree
11% of hispanics have degree


KS is given a grade of F in affordabilty (everybody got a F except CA)

State only spends 17 cents for every dollar of pell grant for aid to students.

Preparation - how does the state eductional system prepare students
Participation - do state residents have plenty of opportunity
Affortability - how has the increase in cost compared with other sectors
Benifits - what benifits does the state recieve from having a highly educated population


KS was above the median in all categories. I would say that there is an emerging issue with Kansas and that is with the growing hispanic population and getting them integrated into the educational system. My feeling with all immigrants, it will be the successive generations that will embrace eduction as they attempt to pull themselves up so they have the opportunity to pursue the american dream.

http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/states/report_cards/index.php?state=KS