Big Education

Radford University (RU) raised tuition by 8% this year, after an 11.3% increase last year. That’s a 19.3% increase in just two years. Other Virginia colleges and universities have had similar tuition increases in recent years, as have colleges around the country. One year of a college education now typically costs between $20,000 and $50,000, which comes out to $80,000 to $200,000 for the four years it normally takes to graduate.

My entire undergraduate education at the University of Virginia cost me a total of about 12 or $13,000 (that’s for tuition, fees, room, food, books, everything). Now at UVA, it’s going to cost you $25,000 a year, at least. That’s a 669% increase (since 1969).

Here is a test: Why do we not hear politicians, newspapers, TV talking heads, pundits, and all the chattering class fulminating about “big education” and price gouging and demanding investigations, and all that?