NPR : Taking Issue... The Rising Costs of College

The Rising Costs of College

NPR.org, May 23, 2005 · A four-year degree at a private college can cost a student upwards of $120,000. Even for many in-state students at public universities, a bachelor's degree can come with a price tag of $40,000 and more. Are these costs just out of hand? What are colleges and universities doing to keep higher education accessible? Is it enough?

It's More
Than a Degree

Katherine Haley Will

"The real benefits of higher education are difficult to calculate: to learn how to learn and how to flourish as a free human being for a lifetime; to be a good citizen in a democracy."

Katherine Haley Will is the president of Gettysburg College

More Grads
Help Everyone

Kevin P. Reilly

"A university education is a good investment for more than just the individuals who obtain it -- the higher the proportion of degree holders in a state's population, the higher the state's per capita income."

Kevin P. Reilly is the president of the University of Wisconsin System.

Profligacy Has
to Stop

Richard Vedder

"Did the University of Texas have a good year in 2004? Who knows? Are there powerful financial incentives to improve performance or adverse consequences for failure? The answer, of course, is no."

Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University, is author of Going Broke By Degree: Why College Costs Too Much.

Letters to the Editor: We'd like to know what you think about the commentaries on this page. Send us your thoughts. Please include your full name and hometown.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:	» List of local stations (PDF)
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)