National Education Associations Comment on Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid
- George R. Boggs, President and CEO
American Association of Community Colleges - Dr. Constantine (Deno) W. Curris, President
American Association of State Colleges and Universities - David Ward, President
American Council on Education - Dr. Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education - David L. Warren, President
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities - C. Peter Magrath, President
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
George R. Boggs, President and CEO
American Association of Community Colleges
"I am happy to see a positive change from the large increases in student tuition that we have seen in the last few years that came as a result of significant cuts in public support. Community colleges remain the most affordable institutions of higher education in America, providing access to quality higher education and with transfer agreements to both public and private universities as well as high-quality occupational programs to prepare students for today's dynamic workforce. Education beyond high school is more important than it has ever been—both for individuals and our country. Policymakers must protect access to higher education and training opportunities by providing the support needed to both institutions and students to keep prices affordable."
Dr. Constantine (Deno) W. Curris, President
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
"Today's news about easing tuition increases and rising student aid is encouraging, but not satisfactory. State and federal policymakers must live up to their commitments to students and families, and campuses must continue their efforts to contain costs."
David Ward, President
American Council on Education
The good news in today's report on college affordability from the College Board is that tuition price increases have continued to moderate over the past year. Increased tax revenues in many states and efforts to cut costs on many campuses have made this possible, but I remain greatly concerned about the long-term outlook for college access in this country and especially its potential impact on our ability to compete in the global economy. Those of us in leadership positions must take a hard look at the financing partnership that has built our current system of higher education. Institutions certainly must do more to contain costs, enhance efficiency, explore alternative delivery modes, and develop additional revenue streams, but the federal and state governments—perhaps in partnership with the private and philanthropic sectors—must also increase their investment in higher education, particularly need-based student aid. If we fail to take these steps, our nation's future economic standing could be at risk."
Dr. Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
"As the umbrella organization [National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education] for the nation's historically and predominately black two- and four-year colleges and universities, the College Board's Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing continue to provide the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) with reliable annual data to support legislative recommendations to Congress and to drive other policy and programmatic recommendations. Most recently, NAFEO used the College Board's Trends data to assist in shaping and advancing proposed legislation to benefit displaced students and faculty from the HBCUs ravaged by Hurricane Katrina—Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans, and Xavier University. The data also proved useful in crafting and championing legislation and proposals to provide financial relief to NAFEO institutions receiving the 10,000 HBCU Katrina displaced students. NAFEO proposed that underfunded institutions that receive and enroll displaced students be awarded a federal grant of $12,000 per full-time student to cover the costs of tuition and fees. The $12,000 figure is aligned with the average cost for tuition, room, and board for students attending a public four-year institution, reported in Trends in Student Aid 2005.
"The inclusion in the Trends reports of data on public and private two- and four-year institutions is especially helpful to NAFEO, which has a membership of historically and predominately black colleges and universities spanning this gamut. The rising costs associated with meeting increased technological, security, fuel, and other expenses associated with remaining competitive in a global market, [and] educating an increasingly diverse student population and work force illustrate clearly the need for more equitable and efficient investments in student financial aid. The demographics of today and the workforce of tomorrow argue for investing more public and philanthropic dollars in institutions that educate disproportionate percentages of low-income, first-generation, and traditionally underserved students, like historically and predominately black colleges and universities."
David L. Warren, President
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
"The College Board's report not only underscores the challenges that families face in affording higher education, but also the benefits to students who persevere, invest in a college education, and earn a degree. Students at private colleges and universities still find that they graduate with a surprisingly similar amount in federal loans as their peers at public institutions, are twice as likely to graduate in four years, and as likely to come from low-income and working families or to be a racial or ethnic minority. At the same time, the average out-of-pocket cost for tuition and fees (minus grants and tax benefits) for a student at a private college is roughly just half of the published price—$11,600 versus $21,235. This year's average increase of 5.9 percent reflects extraordinary increases in energy, library acquisitions, health care and other insurance premiums, and information technology."
"Stagnant funding of federal student aid over the past four years has also fed tuition increases. Flat federal funding has put an additional strain on college budgets as institutions attempt to fill the gap. It is also putting the public good provided by higher education at risk. Congress has not kept funding for student aid in line with inflation, growing family need, or the swelling tidal wave of low-income and first-generation college students who are academically prepared for college. Congress is on the verge of cutting Pell Grants and other student aid. And the House and Senate are poised to make substantial cuts to student loans for deficit reduction. This is not how to make higher education affordable for America's working families. Congress must keep up its commitment to needy students; their future and the future of the national interest depend on it."
C. Peter Magrath, President
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
"It is encouraging that public universities were able to keep tuition increases at modest levels this year. The $365 average increase at four-year public universities shows a commitment to keeping education as affordable as possible.
"Of course, students receive varying amounts of aid, and unfortunately too many bright, low-income students still do not enroll in college. Our institutions will remain committed to holding down costs and maximizing the amount of institutional and government assistance available for needy students and their families. It is promising to see that undergraduate and graduate students received $129 billion in aid last year, an 8 percent increase. However, we believe more aid in the form of grants would help more low-income students gain access to higher education. It is of some concern to see that after three years of large increases in the number of Pell Grant recipients, the program showed just 3 percent growth last year and the constant dollar value of the average Pell Grant declined for the second straight year.
"Still, at our four-year public institutions, the average full-time student receives $3,300 in grants and tax benefits, reducing tuition and fees to a net price of about $2,200. Higher education institutions remain committed to increasing access for low-income students, and we are hopeful that we can keep higher education affordable for all."