Do you think the cost of education is too high?

**homesteadmamma** · 02-19-2004, 01:17 PM

When I look at the cost of books and tuition, I wonder how some kids do it. Its incredible and so many of the books you can't use from year to year.

Thoughts?

**guest2** · 02-19-2004, 01:24 PM

I think the costs are skyrocketing out of control!!! The college that I attended has raised their tuition substantially each year for the past 3 years. Some of our "adopted" college kids go there and it's getting harder and harder for them. I hate to even think of the debt they are going to have once they graduate. And books!!!! OMG!!! One of the books that Chris was just given by one of these kids was over $100!!!

He gave Chris all his books when he left college to get a good paying job back in Hawaii with the electric company there.

**canadian gardener** · 02-19-2004, 01:36 PM

We have worked very hard to keep our kids out of debt as they gain their degrees. They have worked very hard too.

IT's taken longer for both of them, ds has held down a permanent half time position at a bank while working thru his degree. He finishes this spring with a combined Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and in business.

Dd has gone from working every summer to working 1 to 2 shifts a week during the school year and full time in the summers.

Both of them buy used books, and re sell them.

Up till last summer both stayed at home to save money. Ds moved out in July but he is still debt free (and having a blast with 2 other guys from our church-- we nicknamed it the baptist boys frat house)

Living near a good degree granting university college has been a gift from God because otherwise I don't know how we could have done this.

I think student loan debt is an incredible evil thing that swallows up young people's futures without them being fully aware of how much, how long it will drag them down. It's horrifying.

At an age where they are struggling to figure out where they are going, what they should do in life, they take on incredible amounts of debt, not knowing if it will pay off, not knowing most of the time, whether the degrees they get will even be in demand or pay well enough to pay off the loan and interest.

**sunshine** · 02-19-2004, 02:30 PM

I think costs are out of control. Book prices are horrendous! One of my paperback texts for class this semester cost me $85-- and the book is only 250 pages.

Tutition is also nuts--- so many kids are getting scholarships, grants and loans that the schools know they can charge the amount and get away with it.

**Guest1** · 02-19-2004, 02:34 PM

it's unbelievable how expensive it is to get an education....

**Katybird** · 02-19-2004, 03:05 PM

It is unbelievable how expensive it has gotten. I think that they are making the dream of a college education almost unattainable for some lower income families. Even with all the grants and scholarships that are out there the cost of college is astronomical.

**gkp1031** · 02-19-2004, 07:32 PM

Books and Tuition costs are out of control.

**captclearance** · 02-19-2004, 08:15 PM

I think it is criminal !!!!!!!!
The cost of not having an education is so much higher !

**lucy979** · 02-20-2004, 12:21 AM

I agree! It is way too high. I hate to think how much it will be when my kids go to college.

**PrairieRose** · 02-20-2004, 05:25 PM

Dd's tuition, books and fees went up about 27% this year alone. I'm soooooo glad that she's getting closer to then than the beginning. It's highway robbery.

**AmyBoz** · 03-10-2004, 11:58 AM

I think it is absolutely ridiculous. Education should not just be a privelege for those who can afford it. Rob and I are always telling each other that Julia better study hard or play a sport because there is no way we'll be able to help her at all if she doesn't get some serious scholarships.