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Printer-friendly version Costs of higher education negatively affect students
A bill passed in the House and Senate will eliminate funds equaling $13.5 million in the state of Indiana, and affect many of the 5,497 Boilermakers who receive Pell Grants. According to Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leader, college tuition has risen by 35 percent and more 200,000 young adults have already been "priced out of college."
The Department of Education is basing the restrictions on delayed revisions in tax codes, which haven’t been adjusted in 15 years. The House and Senate reason that in all of that time, most families have surpassed the eligible salary base.
Well, OK, then increase the Pell Grants for the students who are still eligible for the government subsidy. For some reason, that novel idea hasn’t crossed the minds of our senators and representatives.
Higher education in America is already grossly more expensive than tuition in other countries around the world. Nearly all countries in the developed world, with the exception of the United States, have free universities with negligible fees. Granted, taxes are higher in these countries and perhaps the quality of higher education is not as advanced, but one has to question when higher education in the United States simply becomes a money-making business for loan companies and banks that prey on students.
Purdue has a plan to raise $200 million by 2007 from private donations and other sources, but is less reliance on the government a good idea? Endowments and other donations typically come with strings attached. Private groups will want their scholarships to go to programs they support. The Pell Grant was for anyone, regardless of major, program, race, gender, anyone who was financially eligible. Dependence on private funding to make up for a $13.5 million loss is a good move for right now, but not a permanent solution.
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