Community colleges getting more expensive
Monday, Apr 3, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
This article states that the average tuition and fees at community colleges in Illinois is now $2,318 a year.
For another year, tuition increases at suburban community colleges dwarfed the rate of inflation — as seven area community colleges raised the price of admission by an average of 10 percent for the 2006-07 school year.
Tuition increases have become an annual rite statewide. Tuition increased by 40 percent between 2001 and 2006 at the 48 community colleges in Illinois.
During that same period, the consumer price index — a key indicator of inflation — increased by just 12 percent. […]
Community college officials blame the state for tuition increases.
State money to Illinois community colleges fell from a high of $372.7 million in 2002 to $345.7 million in fiscal year 2005 — a 7 percent decrease.
- Levois - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 7:43 am:
This would bother me I’m a product of the community college. It’s still cheaper than going to a 4 year university. But I would hope they would never be as expensive as a 4 year university.
- Lovie's Leather - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 8:04 am:
Looking at the rising cost of community colleges, you see costs going higher because of technology. Right now, I am sitting in a computer lab at a community college that is filled with about 50 new computers. Every room has a very technical overhead projection system. Every instructor is given a computer for their office, so is every advisor. Technology equals convenience, but it also equals higher tuition. Personally, I would rather not be on this new computer and pay $20 less a year. How about you?
- can't imagine - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 8:15 am:
Lovie’s leather…after reading that thought I questions why you are even in the college!! You would give up all the wonders of technology for $20??? wow send me your address I’l send you the $20.
A huge part of the issue is the failure of the state to come up with the Veterans Grant money. This spring te state is only paying 5-7% of the monies promised. That means the community schools must either go back to the veterans for payment or eat it themselves. They are losing money due to this program.
- Mike's Used Sport's Section - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 8:55 am:
I’m sick of the suburban community colleges whining about not getting enough state money. They get huge local tax dollar support and they have taxing authority too. If they need more money, they can get it. Plus they are way off of their core mission when they spend billions on new technology and things like dorms and athletic stadiums too.
- Shelbyville - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 8:56 am:
As a 1974 grad of LakeLand, I can tell you, the community college education is a bargain and more students should take advantage of it.
We are currently paying $1200/month at the University of Chicago.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 9:02 am:
Can’t imagine,
My understanding is that the state never promised to cover every dollar of the institutional costs for veterans, just that veterans didn’t have to pay. Thus, as the institutions opt to charge more themselves, it puts a greater burden on the ability of the state to pay.
Education for veterans (and everyone) will be accessible if we get the educational institutions under control and make sure everything that they are doing is education.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 9:06 am:
It all depends on the community college. Harper and COD are a lot nicer and offer a much nicer set of programs than Morton Grove CC.
- Lovie's Leather - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 9:38 am:
When do I get my $20? I have to buy books next semester and I am starting to save now….
- DownDem - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 10:45 am:
Hey, at least they have that Blago tuition tax cut to help them pay for tuition, unless of course you’re like a lot of community college students who pay for their own tuition and don’t make enough each year to benefit from the tax write off.
Any ambitious college student who interns for the Blagojevich campaign this year is selling out their generation.
- Truthful James - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 11:01 am:
As usual, tuition is only part of the problem. The total revenue support to each CC includes tuition and property tax revenue, With the latter capped by PTELL, the only place for an increase is in tuition fees and those ever more expensive (and heavier) textbooks. Each CC District has a different mix of full time instructors, low paid adjuncts (without any benefits) and administrators. It is in the last area that costs can quickly escalate, unless taxpayers are willing to pore over numbers.
The CC provides good lower division classes by actual teachers instead of graduate assistants. They have been providing good tech training as well leading to an Associate degree.
Unfortunately, they have been burdened by the low lvel of the education quality received by our high school graduates.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 1:35 pm:
I think part of the problem with CCs is that too many people go to CCs. It may not make sense, but when a school like Lewis and Clark CC or Kaskaskia College have 15,000 students EACH, you have to find a way to provide plenty of technology, resources, financial assistance and amenities for all/most students. This, of course, is done while charging low rates. All of those factors, combined with our current governor’s unwillingness to adequately fund post-elementary education, leads to the problem of across-the-board tuition hikes.
- Truthful James - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 1:55 pm:
Team Sleep –
Look backward. According to NGA public colleges spend more than $2 Billion a year in remedial education. Costs have escalated in our public school system. Value has not been given. Subject matter mastery has been replaced by teaching certificates. The ISBE dumbs down and then norms down the supposed testings — validating the bad teaching, relieving both parents and instructors of blame.
And then they have the unmitigated gaul to convince the school boards to ignore NCLB — do not accept their tests, do not institute reforms.
We are falling behind both the so called civilized world and the tigers of east Asia.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 6:00 pm:
Community College District No. 508 (The City Colleges of Chicago) has to be the largest an unexamined scandal in Chicago. Administrators outnumber faculty members, dozens of aldermanic relatives seem to have positions at the district headquarters, which is an affirmative action nightmare that Kafka could not have invented. Ron Gidwitz (known as “Nitwitz” within the CCC) boasted about his tenure as the Chair of the City Colleges Board — clearly a sign that he was delusional. Radical racial identity politics seems to be the current curriculum at most campuses. Mayor Daley appoints the trustees of the only unelected community college board in the state and he could careless about is graft and corruption as long as his guys score some big contracts now and again.
- the wonderboy - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 11:55 pm:
I hope you weren’t complaining about $1200 a month at University of Chicago…that is Ivy League level for less than what most pay at state schools.
Here’s a thought–maybe community colleges shouldn’t spend money on athletics. I know that locally, Heartland Community College is looking to get into competitive sports and that means equipment, coaches, a new arena, etc. Just my opinion, but that is definitely money better spent elsewhere.