The burden of student loan debt....

No one makes you sign for a student loan. What's the problem? Lehigh stated it took him 10 years to pay off his loan. Granted it sucks to have to. But isn't he now reaping the benefits of that education? But even if he isn't. It isn't because of the loan. Should state universities be free? I think so. But isn't that kind socialistic?

 

Yeah, and no one forced people to take on risky mortgages or high interest credit cards either but the lenders have been vilified in those cases....mainly by the left.

 

Looking at this logically, there is simply not enough wealth out there for everybody to pay their way through school without student loans. There's no way there's enough jobs (full or P/T,high paying enough jobs) available that could support all the students going to college to pay their way through at today's costs. If there was, there would likely not be enough time in a day to do both at the same time. And the economy wouldn't be what it is today. A few are fortunate enough to get through with no loans. That's great. A few people in this country get to inherit millions of dollars too. I guess that's a wonderful perk also.

Over 50% of the population doesn't have a grand in the bank. What percentage do you think really has $30k a year sitting there for their kids? Even out of the most successful? I'd bet few people making over $100,000 have accomplished this and that's the top 15% household income in the US.

Without student loans, over half the colleges in this country would go under. Everything relies on future money nowadays. Look how your own federal government does business. It's a disaster at every level right now.

Which is why funding is being cut to higher education. If funding is being increased somewhere else, let us know. The states have crushing pension obligations. Some that are almost hopelessly in the red. They're legally required to pay these pensions and the money was robbed from them just like social security. What amazes me is that everybody sees these failures to manage money from the past but yet there are still people who believe the government should get their hands on more money to handle more programs. And then everything will be great and taken care of. It's always "lets give them another chance."

Well, lets watch them take over healthcare next. Then after they rob and plunder that fund for 50 years, they'll be looking to make cuts again to make up for the shortfalls with that govt. run program! Maybe with any luck at all, higher education will get overlooked next time? With any luck at all.

 

So should we kill 'em? Caveat Emptor. Or some crap.

 

Well some just go to better themselves and aren't looking for the big bucks in the end. Are they just saps?

 

A college education is not only an investment in the individual's future, it is also an investment in the future of this country. You simply can't have nearly as much innovation in new technologies, medicines, and industries that have yet to be created without an educated population to both create them and help them grow.

People tend to think of only the individual involved rather that the whole of society. It is easier to understand the impact on one person's life while completely ignoring the greater good, your country, and future generations, etc. Many people in academia do not spend 20 years in school to earn a boatload of cash, they do it for the love of learning and teaching young people to think critically. Granted, you certainly could walk into the business school here on campus and find people making a boatload of money but they know that they could go into private industry and make a lot more. They have to be well compensated in order to keep them onboard. By the same token, you can find people that could go into private industry and triple their salaries but choose to remain in academia not for the money but for the love of the profession.

I know that this university is scheduled to take a 10% cut this year followed by a 10% cut next year and it means that tuition will have to increase in order to meet the operating budget. No raises again, furloughs, rescissions, and lay-offs are likely outcomes as a result but you will find that very few people will actually pack up and voluntarily leave even under the draconian fiscal measures. I don’t know a heck of a lot of people living high on the hog as a result of their employment here but I know many people that love what they do and would do it for free if they could.

 

Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

 

Just what keeps them from doing it for free?

 

Feeding their families, taking care of their elderly parents, saving for their retirement, the usual stuff.

 

We like to say those who can't teach probably never had the ability to learn in the first place.

 

Oh, so it boils down to money! Those damned capitalists!!!

 

When in Rome....

 

No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher. (Mr. Miyagi)

 

Lower tuition would be great. It seems that every year all the universities tack on more and more for the student to pay for.

 

As I've stated, a degree is simply the product sold by colleges & universities. They are in it for the money, just like every other capitalist enterprise. They raise their prices as the market allows and they seek out methods to make buying their product affordable. Folks like dr moen just can not be objective and refuse to admit how irresponsible it is for these businesses to sell life altering debt to college students. If schools (and the employees) were as remotely benevolent as dr moen would lead us to believe they would offer up alternatives to jacking up their prices & saddling the burden on students. The truth is universities & colleges are the most profitable enetrprises in the country & they continue to sit on mountains of cash in the form of subsidies & endowments. I thank God everday that I chose to work in order to pay as I went. I am thankful for my education & owe a great deal of gratitude to my 2 schools but I would probably feel differently if I had bowed to the pressure & relied on debt to get me through it.

 

Except, as I've stated, universities are nonprofits. The markets have nothing to do with our tuition prices. Our operating costs determined what we need to charge. We are like any other state institution. Profit doesn't figure in. You continue to remain ignorant and buy into your own biases and falsehoods. If I ever run into this mountain of cash you speak of, I'll certainly let you know. Saying such a thing only proves your lack of knowledge on the subject you speak of....AGAIN!

educational institutions.
As public educational institutions, they are actually considered govt agencies. The employees usually belong to the state retirement system, salaries & wages are usually set by the legislatures. The governing body is "The State Board of Higher Education" or something similar and it is controlled by the state legislature.

 

I think Moen was referring to teachers. Who really have no control of tuition. And schools of higher learning have no control on the price of books, food, etc. There are plenty of kids who work through college. You either accept the loan or try another way. Do you have a better idea? Should tuition be less so the staff can just survive for the good of the student body? Teachers work for free? Illuminate the campus by candlelight? Does making a good living only apply to you?

 

Yeah, I guess the highest educated people in the country (PhD's) should work for nothing. I would hardly call academia "a good living". I know presidents and provosts and chancellors can be paid good salaries at some institutions but nothing like CEO's in private industries. The main benefit is the atmosphere of the campus, the intellectual freedom, and the energy young people have. I've worked in private industry and felt like I was working with zombies.

 

Dude that sounds a bit pedophilic. Yeah. I made that word up.

 

Which part?