Stanford did this several years ago. Started at $125k, not sure what it is now.
It’s a good step, but we have to remember that living expenses are a big part of the cost of attending college. Students will need more help than waived tuition.
Don’t be that guy.
Agreed. Some people will never be happy. The college could give free room and board and somebody would talk about the cost of traveling to and from home. it will never end.
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My kid worked part time though college and paid his own living expenses and was still able to contribute to his Roth, save money and put money into a brokerage account. He lived in Champaign Illinois which has a lower cost of living than a lot of places, but can be done anywhere if someone really wants it. Another option is going somewhere you can afford.
If it is financial help and their education is important to them, then they will go to work like I did, like my wife did, like millions of others did.
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Yep, there are a ton of ways to get a college education. Join the military, work your way through school, go to community college for a couple years and transfer to a reasonably priced state school, a combination of working and student loans, etc.
I had $14,000 and borrowed the difference
Have you looked at the difference in the cost of college when you went and today?
One of the big drivers is the number of non-teaching administrators that has increased significantly over time.
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Seriously, what do you think Harvard should do, and where does it end? Why stop at room and board? Give every student money to fund trips home for every break. Better yet, give them money for spring break trips. Give them cars to have on campus.
This reminds me of some criticism that I read about St Jude Hospital. The hospital funds treatment for children with cancer and also pays for travel for one parent. Some were criticizing the organization for the audacity of not funding travel for both parents.
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because people suck
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I didn’t say Harvard should do everything. I just pointed out that tuition is only a part of it. At most colleges, it’s far less than living costs.
If you look at the finer details, I suspect Harvard is doing more. At least hopefully. The point is, the financial burden should not be what keeps a talented student from succeeding.
I agree with the tenor of your answer because unless the feds provide everything, mcarley will not be satisfied.
Yes, college is expensive. The cost per undergrad and grad credit hour where I went is about 17-20x what it was when I went (although the school was on a quarter, not semester, basis when I went and I didn’t do the conversion). Law school is now about 12-13x per credit what I paid (I started 11 years after my grad degree).
Without going into my gory details it takes a lot of sacrifices to do it. While minimum wage in Michigan has increased about 10x since then, someone needs to work and go to college nearly full time each. I only earned minimum wage for 3-4 months because I was willing to do what was necessary to earn more, including change jobs. I also know that it is possible today to earn college credits while in high school and there is much more scholarship money available today. There also employers that provide some form of tuition assistance or reimbursement. I changed jobs to get that benefit. If I was doing this today, I would probably first go to community college, which is considerably cheaper. I might even consider other training than college.
I was raised by parents who didn’t spend it if they didn’t have it, loathed debt and refused to “go on the dole” as my mother called it. College loans were not prevalent when I went, but I figured out a way that would work for me without them.
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Who should the financial burden be on?
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Any kid that puts in a decent amount of effort in Missouri can get their first two years of Community College free.
Anyone who really wants something will figure out a way, others will find excuses.