ED0819A07

On the homepage

Vikings

Favre's stats put him in MVP picture

Out There

Pardon Board

Not all forgiven

Petters

Petters jury will resume deliberations Tuesday

Home | Opinion Exchange | Editorials

Editorial: Equitable pricing for college degrees

Universities should not charge higher tuition for some majors.

Last update: August 18, 2007 - 5:11 PM

Print this story

Follow Opinion Exchange on Twitter

AROUND THE NATION

About half of America's 30 largest public universities charge higher tuition rates in some colleges. Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan post different prices for different majors. Minnesota, like universities in California, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio, charges one basic rate to undergraduate students.

American Association of Universities

More from Editorials

English or engineering? Business or biology? When college students select their majors, a variety of factors influence them. Maybe healing the sick or teaching children is their passion. Perhaps musical or artistic skill directs them toward the arts. And some students don't settle on a course of study until sophomore or junior year.

Myriad motivations exist to select a major -- but price shouldn't be one of them. The cost of higher education is already daunting for too many students and families. Colleges, especially public ones, ought not erect yet another financial obstacle.

Yet substantial tuition differences from one discipline to another appear to be a trend. About half of larger universities have them, and more are considering making the change. Last spring, regents of the University of Wisconsin-Madison approved a $500 per semester tuition hike for business students. And UW regents are also considering a tuition hike of more than $1,400 for engineering students. That would make the popular program (with more than 3,000 students) the most expensive major on campus.

The University of Minnesota until 1999 allowed each of its 17 colleges to set its own tuition rates, resulting in some price variations rarely exceeding $200. But regents ended that practice, making basic undergraduate tuition consistent. Some fees still vary slightly for a few majors, but the basic tuition price at each campus is consistent.

That is the right approach. Yet, price-differential supporters argue that areas like engineering and business need additional funds because they cost more to operate. To remain competitive, they say, more must be spent on professors, equipment and research than in other academic areas.

But as Peter Zetterberg, a senior research analyst at the U of M points out, all undergraduate students take courses in a variety of colleges -- not just in their major. Costs for undergraduate studies should be spread among all students. If a tuition hike is needed, it should apply to everyone.

In graduate school, it is understandable if all degrees are not priced equally. Graduate studies are dedicated to a single academic area; lines can be more clearly drawn about exactly what it takes to produce advanced students of a particular discipline.

But for undergraduates at taxpayer-supported universities, all students should have equal financial access to all majors.

Recent Editorials stories

Editorial: This Bud Light's not for U - August 18, 2007

Editorial: This Bud Light's not for U - Anheuser-Busch's ill-advised 'Fan Cans'' promotion. More

Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments

New ideas for the public sector

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to create a more efficient Minnesota. Facing large budget deficits at the state, county and local levels, Minnesotans are seeing with new clarity that the public sector must adapt to new economic realities. Only the smartest, most strategic reinvention will ensure that our tax dollars are spent on the best programs and services. Read more

About Opinion Exchange

Opinion Exchange is produced by the Editorial Department, which is dedicated to hosting the discussion on a range of issues of interest to Star Tribune readers online and in print. In its new format, it's our hope that Opinion Exhange will create a more dynamic dialogue between Star Tribune readers and the Editorial Board. Many individual posts will be written and signed by members of the Editorial Board and will reflect their own opinions. Daily editorials will continue to represent the institutional voice of the newspaper and be researched and written by the Editorial Department, which is independent of the newsroom.

Subscribe to RSS|Learn more about RSS