I watched the
NBC news on April 24, and they offered another news story on the high cost of
higher education. And then their
discussion was about the cost of elite or tier one universities. What they did not talk about, and
what is seldom discussed is where should you go to college? What is the evidence that elite or top
tier universities provide a better education?
Members of the U.S. power elite have long sent their
children to elite universities in an effort to prepare them for professions and
well paying positions. And even
faculty at the lower level universities (regional universities, community
colleges) try to get their children into the tier one and elite universities.
There is clear evidence that graduating from college is
important for economic success in our rapidly changing economy. It is less
clear that attending elite universities offers more economic success than
graduating from your local
public university.
Young people,
high school and college students want to choose where to go to college, but
there are significant cost considerations that parents ( if they are going to
pay) should consider. And, if the
student is going to pay, the parents should do some serious counseling on debt.
Top private universities can cost $40,000 to $50,000 per year. Or, you could go to a U.C. for about $14,000 per year as an
undergraduate. Many graduate
programs are more. Premium ( first tier) U.C.’s cost somewhat more. U.C. Berkeley, U.C.L.A., etc.
Or, you could go to a CSU for $6,800 per year. Or, you could go to a community college for the first two
years of college at a cost in California of about. $1,400 per year.
There is some
interesting evidence reviewed here. Revisiting the Value of Elite
Colleges. David Leonhardt.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/revisiting-the-value-of-elite-colleges/
