The Observer, December 2, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12
Tuition hikes should come with a warning
Students were greeted this past Tuesday with an e-mail from Provost Anderson explaining the 6.48 percent increase in tuition (9.47 increase starting for the Class of 2010) next year. This was not unexpected news to students, as tuition has increased steadily in recent years. Tuition increases are a fact of life in modern higher education, and, unfortunately, students do not have much say regarding how much tuition should or should not increase.
Perhaps it is the lack of input that causes the most frustration to students and their families, but stomping feet or berating the current administration is not going to help the situation. What students can do is evaluate the tuition increase and determine if it does indeed benefit the student's overall collegiate experience at the university. If students do not find evidence that the tuition increases are being used to their benefit, then they should make their sentiments known to prospective students.
Ultimately, the university has the responsibility to invest increases in tuition for the improved experiences of college students. However, it is also the university's responsibility to inform students (their customers) of a projected price tag for their overall education, as education is an investment like any other. Cost of attendance is one of the most important factors in choosing a university, and while increases are inevitable, the 34.4 percent increase from the 2002-2003 school year is a fact that might make prospective students think twice about coming to Case. Yes, investing in the university's future is an important part of improving the overall experience – as well as rankings – but being less expensive than our peer institutions will soon mean little if we cannot attract students of equal caliber with our diminishing "Best Deal in Ohio" status.
