college cost

Our US Congressman, John Kline, is the Chairman of the Education Committee and recently held a town meeting to discuss the cost of college. Since I feel this is a subject that is grossly misunderstood, I wrote to him regarding this issue. I contend that no person would miss out on a college education because of the cost. I further contend that there are three ways to minimize the cost. To begin with just about every student is within a short drive to a college or university so the first step in reducing cost is to live at home and attend a local school. The parents will continue to provide room and board and the student can work part time during the school year and full time in the summer and earn enough to pay for books, fees and tuition. At the University of Minnesota, the premier institution in our area these cost would be about $15,000 per year. By working long hours in the summer and about 15 hours a week during the school year a student can earn this much. The second way and this is particularly useful for those students who live in rural areas more than driving distance from a college, is to use the online degree courses. If I had two people applying for a job and other things being equal, I would choose the person who got their degree online. It takes maturity and self-discipline to study alone without the direct help afforded to those in the classroom. Finally the GI Bill is available for all who have good health and I think this is the best way. A person agrees to serve three years on active duty and they are eligible for three years of benefits, that includes, all tuition and fees, $1,000 per year for books and $1,000 per month housing allowance increasing to $1,500 with children. A person can start night school while they are on active duty and many earn a full year of credit that way. When they retire they can go to school full time and finish a BA in three more years. You have served your country and finish six years out of high school and no debt. I went to college in the 50’s and the GI Bill had stopped so, I like many of my friends, worked full time and went to school part time. I graduated in nine years and I had a job plus nine years of work experience and no debt. Contrast that with today where students graduate in four or five years and no work experience and no job along with thousands of dollars of student loans. This is just one more example of the unintended consequences of good intentions. Outstanding student loans at 1.2 trillion have now surpassed person credit card debt. This debt is preventing young people from owning their own home and for many delaying marriage and children. The only thing the student loan program accomplished was to encourage schools to raise tuition.