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Joey Yerkins

Prof. Myers

English Composition 1201

14 April 2019

College Costs Research Essay

“College was the best four years of my life”. This is a quote that I have heard my mom

and dad say many times in our household. Needless to say, I have been excited to attend college

since I can remember. I have spent the last ten to twelve years thinking about where I will attend

college, what I will major in, who my roommates will be, and what kind of new friends I will

make. Since my parents talk about their college days often, I started asking them what college

costs were thirty years ago and how they paid for it. My dad mentioned that he had $32,000 in

debt over four years at the University of Dayton. After he graduated and started working, he paid

it off little by little. It took him about six years to pay off his student debt. If it were 2019, my

dad would have been over $200,000 in debt. This is how much college tuition has increased

through time. Over the past two years, my family and I have started taking college visits and

exploring the many options that each college has to offer. After each visit, I made a spreadsheet

of the advantages and disadvantages for each college. The main theme that kept standing out to

me was how expensive college was going to cost. For example, I visited the University of

Kentucky and their tuition, fees, room and board, meal plan, and other expenses came out to be

about $45,600 per year. After my visit to the University of Kentucky, it immediately hit me, ‘that

is a lot of money for a family to pay for their child’s education’. Applying and getting accepted

into college is a pivotal moment in a student’s life, therefore, I need to know why the expenses
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are so high. For this research essay, I will prove why college costs are becoming too expensive

and what families can do to relieve the expenses and pay for higher education.

The background information behind this topic is very interesting. There are many reasons

why college is so expensive. First, the G.I. Bill of Rights is a main source for the rising cost of

higher education. The G.I. Bill of Rights explains how veterans and their families were allowed

to go to college for a very inexpensive price covering tuition and other expenses. Before the G.I.

Bill of Rights, most Americans thought college was only for the wealthy. That changed with the

G.I. Bill, making college affordable to veterans and the middle-class. Colleges were booming

and could not be built fast enough. A turning point came in the 1970s when double-digit inflation

and a struggling economy hit. Because of the number of grants and loans being given, higher

education costs began to soar. Another factor is The Great Recession. The Great Recession is a

cause for most of the high levels in tuition among private and public institutions of higher

learning. The Great Recession's background was a time of economic decline towards markets

and other industries during the 2000s. The Recession created for high unemployment and the

value of American homes diminished, therefore, leaving parents with fewer resources to pay for

their child’s education. State officials had to make decisions on budget cuts. Unfortunately, they

cut funding for higher education, causing college costs to soar.

Today, there are many forces that are still driving the cost of college up, such as schools

updating and building multi-million structures. A reason for this is the competition between

colleges to have the top amenities and latest facilities. These new buildings “​can be touted on

campus tours for prospective applicants” (Schoen). If a school looks nice, new and polished, it

will certainly attract more students. Colleges are “trying to build more amenities—so you hear
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about the rock climbing walls and the lazy rivers” (Schoen). Establishing these activities affects

the college cost significantly. Also, the costs of intercollegiate sports are causing financial

increases on students. Coaches are receiving high salaries, especially in “small Division I

programs that are trying to make their way up the ladder and get into the big time” (Schoen).

Because of the coaches receiving high salaries, it raises the amount of money students are having

to pay.

One of the main expenses for college is the cost of tuition. Many families have trouble

providing the expenses for their children to go to college mainly because of the high tuition rates.

Adam Davidson, who is a writer for the New York Times magazine, explains how the tuition has

risen over the years, “tuition at a private university is now roughly three times as expensive as it

was in 1974, costing an average of $31,000 a year; public tuition, at $9,000, has risen by nearly

four times” (Davidson). For the average American, this cost is going to be out of reach for their

families to pay. Some people still continue to find ways for their children to go to college

because they believe the return to the investment is so high, and it will be worth it. However, this

article also suggests an opposing point where the main reason some students are not considering

going to college is because of the expense.

In addition to the tuition rising, financial aid has failed to keep up resulting in a

disadvantage for college students. This means that college students will end up having to pay

more for their education than they would have if they had more financial aid. At a private

university, tuition and fees increased by 1.9% resulting in $34,740 a year. At a public university,

tuition and fees rose 1.3% resulting in $9,970 a year. However, “in 2009-2010, when institutions

posted some of their largest tuition increases, private nonprofit four-year institutions raised
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tuition and fees by 5.9 percent” (Seltzer). Regarding this statement, students have ended up

having to pay higher tuition and fees as tax benefits and grant aids couldn’t keep pace with the

rising prices.

Fig.1.(“College Costs Rising Faster than Financial Aid, Report Says.” ​The Denver Post)

This visual demonstrates how college students come out of college with a lot more

student debt than they expected. It also is showing how college costs are rising higher and higher

today.

Another reason that makes college so expensive is housing. There are many different

options when it comes to choose housing in college. The most cost-effective way to live at

college is in a “traditional style” dormitory. This means that students live in a room with one to

three other roommates. There is a hallway bathroom and shower facility that the entire floor

shares. An upgrade to this type of dorm would be a suite style. This means that the occupants in

the room have a bathroom and living room to share amongst themselves, with a possibility of

having their own bedroom. A third option would be an apartment or house. This would come

complete with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen. Sometimes students can list which
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preference they would like, but many times it is not a guarantee and colleges will give you what

is available.

Consequently, each type of campus housing comes with different pricing. Prices vary at

each college, but it is common that the most cost-effective is the traditional style dormitory, and

the most expensive is the apartment-style. An example of pricing for the University of Cincinnati

Campus Housing, is $3,378 per semester for a traditional dormitory, $4,205 per semester for a

suite style, and $4,587 per semester for apartment style living. This is a big cost in college, but

many feel that it is necessary to have a true college experience and learn independence. It is a

crucial step in learning how to become an adult.

Not only is housing a big expense in college, but the food is as well. All students that live

on campus are required to purchase a meal plan. Each college is different in the plans they offer

and the opportunities they give students. There is such a plan called Unlimited. This is a plan

where the student can have as much food as they want whenever the dining halls are open. Some

colleges have a plan much like a declining balance or debit card. They load their card with

money and each time they eat, that amount is deducted from their account. A third option for

meal plans is a Block Plan. This means that students and parents can choose how many meals

they would like to buy per week. This is more popular to students living in an apartment or house

with a kitchen. They can cook more meals on their own without needing a cafeteria. As with

housing, meal plans are bought at the beginning of each semester.

Each college has different prices for food and meals. It stands to reason that the plans

with more food are more money. A typical price for meals at The University of Cincinnati is

$2,292 per semester for unlimited dine-in meal swipes, plus $150 dollars, plus 15 guest meals. A
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Block Plan would include 12 meals per week and cost $2,274 per semester. Having the right

meal plan for your child at college is crucial in having them stay healthy and balanced. Buying

meal plans for your child can be a big expense at college, but can provide peace of mind that

they will stay healthy.

In addition to meal plans, the amount of student debt, loans, and financial aid after a child

graduates from college are outrageous. ​In a video from CNBC news network, they state how

students are having to pay high amounts of money in order to pay for their student loans. A

student in the video says that she is $60,000 dollars in debt from student loans. The average

student graduates college with about $37,000 dollars in debt. ​In a book written by Timothy

Ulbrich and Loren Kirk, they state that the amount of student loan debt is rising and has had a

negative impact on students trying to engage in the workforce after college. The book explains

how student loan debt is rising by the minute and has surpassed 1.3 trillion dollars. They state

that this could easily affect students’ career choices and financial goals. College expenses are

“​putting a damper on the college aspirations of millions of American families” (Schoen).​ If their

intended major requires additional schooling after 4 years, it may not be feasible to continue in

graduate school. This book gives an example of pharmacists struggling to pay off their

undergraduate student debt, while still borrowing more money to help pay for pharmacy school.

It can be overwhelming when trying to pay back student loans.

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Fig. 2. (“Understanding the Rising Costs of Higher Education.”) ​Best Value Schools

This image explains how the average student debt and inflation amount has increased

over the time period from 1993-2014. Although this information is not that recent, it still

presents an accurate visual of how student debt has increased over the years.

Financial aid also plays an enormous role in determining how families will pay for their

child’s higher education. All students are encouraged and required to fill out a form called the

FAFSA, this stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a document that will

determine a student's eligibility for receiving government help when paying for college. There

are many different types of aid that can be given and will be decided based on families income

and financial situation. Loans are given, which need to be paid back after a student graduates,

whereas grants are awarded and do not need to be paid back. Grants awarded are increasing,

“​grant aid for postsecondary students totaled $125.4 billion in 2016-17. That was 74 percent

more than 10 years earlier, adjusting for inflation” (Seltzer).​ Also, there are tax cuts for families

with children in college. This means they will receive money back after filing their income taxes.

Tax credits are a help for families, “​the share of savings from education tax credits and

deductions for households with adjusted gross income of $100,000 went from 0 percent to 24

percent during the same time span. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, implemented in 2009,

shifted the benefits of education tax credits toward upper-income and lower-income filers,

according to the reports” (Seltzer).

There are two main types of loans, private and federal. Every financial expert would

recommend using federal funds first, because of the terms and conditions that come with private

loans. Federal loans are dominant and control how much money can be borrowed and what
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length of time the loans need to be paid back. The majority of students in college take advantage

of loans, “​there were 21 million students enrolled in colleges and universities in the fall of 2016

and eight million of them received federal loans from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan

Program. The students took in $136.3 billion in loans, or about $17,040 per student” (Barr). For

many families, college tuition is not able to be paid in full without obtaining loans, “70% of the

graduates left school owing money” (Barr). The Stafford and Perkins loans are directly given to

students and are favorable for various reasons. They are low-interest and have great repayment

options. The Parent PLUS loan is money that is borrowed in the parents’ name. Among all these

loans, there is a category called subsidized and unsubsidized. This pertains to the interest you

will pay back on the money you borrowed. Subsidized means that nothing is paid back until the

student graduates. Unsubsidized means that the interest needs to start being paid back while the

student is still in school. With all the loans being taken out, “you're getting to a point where it's

getting too difficult for families to afford college” (Schoen).

Along with research from numerous sources, some additional information is included

from my personal research of exploring college expenses. I have visited many colleges

comparing the costs and differences each one holds. I have been to the University of Cincinnati,

the University of Dayton, Xavier University, Toledo University, University of Kentucky,

University of Louisville, Ohio University, and many more. When contrasting colleges and

expenses, there are many things to be taken into consideration such as public schools versus

private schools, tuition, size, etc.

Public schools are less money, however, “Higher education experts say students

shouldn’t rule out private schools, since these institutions often offer tuition discounts that may
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make them competitive with state school prices” (Powell). Another factor to consider is in-state

tuition versus out-of-state tuition. Some schools that are in a different state than your residence

cost twice as much. The University of Kentucky in-state tuition per year is 16,000, but out of

state tuition per year is 40,000. Another out of state school is the University of Louisville. On my

college visit to Louisville, their tuition had a little bit lower cost about 28,000 for out of state

tuition per year, but for in-state, it was about 14,000 per year. On the other side, in-state tuition is

much cheaper. For example, Ohio State University is only about 10,000 in tuition per year for

people living in Ohio. Going out of state to college will more than likely have a higher tuition

rate than staying in state. Another factor to consider is the size of the college. Depending on

whether the school is public or private, private schools typically are a lot smaller in size. They

are also harder to get accepted into, therefore, costing more than public schools. Moreover,

public schools are easier to get into, but there is going to be an increase in the size of the school.

Also, it will likely cost less than a private school. There are many choices and factors to consider

when choosing the best college fit for each individual.

As paying for college can be very expensive and stressful to families, there are a number

of ways to reduce the price to make it less expensive or not expensive at all. Scholarships can be

a great resource to receive money for your education. Scholarships are provided through local

schools and the community. The community scholarships are given out to recipients who have

demonstrated specific qualifications. Another option to make college less expensive is staying in

the state rather than going out of state. Powell suggests that “attending a state school as an

in-state student might be the least expensive option” (Powell). Also, many in-state colleges will

give scholarships specifically related to a program. Another factor that can be considered is
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commuting, which means living at home. Commuting is a great way to still get a higher

education, but not have to pay for housing. Lastly, going into the military is what a lot of people

decide on to save money. Going into the military will guarantee you free college without any

expenses. Students that are in the military are “required to serve after graduation. In return,

tuition and room and board are free at these institutions” (Powell). All of these options are ways

for families to make college very inexpensive and less stressful.

College costs are very high and rising which is going to affect families trying to pay for

their child’s education. As presented in this essay, the main reasons for college being so

expensive is because of tuition rates, housing, meal plans, and instructional fees. Many people

wonder why the cost of higher education is so high and what they can do about it. The cost is

high because of various reasons. The G.I. Bill of Rights, The Great Recession, budget cuts, and

facility upgrades, can all be the cause of higher education college rates. However, in this essay,

there are ways to minimize the cost of going to college. Ways such as, applying for scholarships,

commuting, going to a community college, or going into the military are all options to consider.

Throughout conducting research and writing this essay, I understand more about college

expenses and that there are multiple routes people can go to lower the cost and find the best

college for them.

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Works Cited

Barr, Cecillia. “Types of Student Loans: Federal & Private Loan Options.” ​Debt.org​, Debt.org -

America's Debt Help Organization, 9 Mar. 2018,​ ​www.debt.org/students/types-of-loans/​.

CNBC. “Why College Is So Expensive In America.” ​YouTube,​ YouTube, 6 Feb. 2019,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWJ0OaojfiA&t=10s​.

Davidson, Adam. “Is College Tuition Really Too High?” ​The New York Times,​ The New York

Times, 8 Sept. 2015,

www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/magazine/is-college-tuition-too-high.html​.

Gabriel, Daniel Douglas, and Washington Post. “College Costs Rising Faster than Financial Aid,

Report Says.” ​The Denver Post,​ The Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2016,

www.denverpost.com/2016/10/26/college-costs-rising-faster-financial-aid/​.

Morris, Catherine. “Institutions Tackle Rising Tuition Costs.” ​Diverse Issues in Higher

Education​, no. 16, 2017, p. 6. ​EBSCOhost​,

sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=​https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d

b=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.505929131&site=eds-live​.

Powell, Farran. “What You Need to Know About College Tuition Costs.” ​U.S. News & World

Report,​ U.S. News & World Report, 19 Sept. 2018,

www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/what-you-need-to-

know-about-college-tuition-costs​.

Schoen, John W. “The Real Reasons a College Degree Costs so Much.” ​CNBC,​ CNBC, 8 Dec.

2016,​ ​www.cnbc.com/2015/06/16/why-college-costs-are-so-high-and-rising.html​.
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Seltzer, Rick. “Net Price Keeps Creeping Up.” ​Inside Higher Ed​, Inside Higher Ed, 25 Oct.

2017,​www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/10/25/tuition-and-fees-still-rising-faster-aid-c

ollege-board-report-shows​.

Sitemap. “Understanding the Rising Costs of Higher Education.” ​Best Value Schools​, 20 Nov.

2017,​ ​www.bestvalueschools.com/understanding-the-rising-costs-of-higher-education/​.

Ulbrich, Timothy R., and Loren M. Kirk. “It’s Time to Broaden the Conversation About the

Student Debt Crisis Beyond Rising Tuition Costs.” ​American Journal of Pharmaceutical

Education​, no. 6, 2017, p. 1. ​EBSCOhost​,

sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=​https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d

b=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.517625891&site=eds-live​.