Published: April 22, 2008 04:23 pm            

The best bargain — 04/23/08

Even with tuition increases, two-year colleges less costly

In proposing that it begin charging all students tuition based on how many hours of credit they are taking, Morehead State University essentially is asking the Council on Postsecondary to allow it to charge tuition much like the two-year community and technical colleges always have. Schools like Ashland Community and Technical College have always charged all students per credit hour, while four-year universities have assessed a flat rate of tuition for full-time students regardless of how many credit hours they are taking.

However, the difference between what the community and technical colleges charge for each credit hour is significantly lower than that charged by the state-supported universities.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents is requesting the CPE to approve a 13 percent hike in tuition beginning this fall: From $115 per credit hour to $130 per credit hour. In contrast, while the percentage of increase in tuition at the four-year universities is much lower than at two-year schools, it is much less expensive for a full-time student to attend a community and technical college than a four-year, state-supported university.

If the CPE approves MSU’s tuition proposal, the university this fall will charge students $225 per credit hour for the first 12 hours of credit and $45 for each credit hour above 12. Thus, by comparison it will cost a students $95 less per credit hour to attend a community and technical college than to attend MSU. Add to that the savings that comes from living at home and commuting to college, and it is clear that despite sharp increases in tuition in recent years, community and technical colleges remain the best bargain in higher education in Kentucky.

Students, of course, still will need to enroll in a four-year university to complete their studies for a bachelor’s degree, but community and technical college are the most affordable option for students in their first two years of college. It’s no wonder that enrollment at the community and technical colleges continue to soar each year.

        

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