DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Cost of higher education goes up faster than healthcare and no one cares

**GalasaKoll** · 05-10-2009, 01:53 AM

This despite the competition from online schools.

Is there any other business who has faced competition from the internet and still had pricing power besides traditional higher education?

Forgive me, but WHAT competition from online schools? Online degrees receive very little credibility from major firms. I'm pretty sure I'd have trouble getting a top job with a degree from University of Phoenix online. Even if I had straight A's.

College is an experience, not simply words on paper. Earning a degree while in your pajamas in your bedroom is not quite the same thing as attending a lecture or lab and really interacting with students...

And as to your point about costs... the reason why "real" schools can still charge more, is because they provide more and offer more. Why should they try to compete with the cost of an online institution that has a very small percentage of the expenses involved in a traditional program?

That being said... I agree, college tuition is ridiculously expensive. FAFSA is ridiculous... according to my forms, my family should have been able to support a $55,000+ tuition bill my freshman year... yeah, sure, if we took a second mortgage on the house, maybe?

I wish tuition rate increases would be capped by government somehow. My school is currently engaging in tons of construction and renovation plans, for buildings I will never see or get to reap the benefits of during my years there... yet my tuition has increased to cover it. It's unfortunate.

05-10-2009, 01:53 AM	#6
GalasaKoll Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 441 Senior Member	This despite the competition from online schools. Is there any other business who has faced competition from the internet and still had pricing power besides traditional higher education? Forgive me, but WHAT competition from online schools? Online degrees receive very little credibility from major firms. I'm pretty sure I'd have trouble getting a top job with a degree from University of Phoenix online. Even if I had straight A's. College is an experience, not simply words on paper. Earning a degree while in your pajamas in your bedroom is not quite the same thing as attending a lecture or lab and really interacting with students... And as to your point about costs... the reason why "real" schools can still charge more, is because they provide more and offer more. Why should they try to compete with the cost of an online institution that has a very small percentage of the expenses involved in a traditional program? That being said... I agree, college tuition is ridiculously expensive. FAFSA is ridiculous... according to my forms, my family should have been able to support a $55,000+ tuition bill my freshman year... yeah, sure, if we took a second mortgage on the house, maybe? I wish tuition rate increases would be capped by government somehow. My school is currently engaging in tons of construction and renovation plans, for buildings I will never see or get to reap the benefits of during my years there... yet my tuition has increased to cover it. It's unfortunate.
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