The cost of attending college is definitely a huge concern for many people. Whether its high school students deciding how they will afford a college education or current college students witnessing their tuition gradually increase, the cost of attending college is on everyone’s mind. Public Universities have always been seen as the economical choice when it comes to attending college. Many middle class families who aren’t able to send their children to private universities often rely on public universities to offer an affordable quality education. As the articles point out, the cost of attending Public Universities such as the ones in the CUNY system are going up and it is becoming increasingly more difficult for States to fund Public Higher Education. This is of course a real shame as public colleges and universities are a real important part of our country. As it becomes more expensive, it will become more difficult for many Americans to obtain a college degree which would definitely set us back in being able to keep up with other countries academically and in being able to compete in the global market.
The fact that States are not adequately funding Public higher education comes as no surprise given the financial situation that many States are in. It is difficult for them to continue supporting schools as they have in the past and this has resulted in increased tuition, a reduction in programs and services, and a reduction in financial aid which is another huge blow to middle and lower income families. I personally see this continuing for the next several years given the financial state of the country and given the fact that politicians and our elected representatives don’t seem to want to work together in ensuring that this issue is addressed. There doesn’t seem to be much emphasis and value being placed in Public higher education.
