A survey of private colleges has found that they are increasing tuition and fees by an average of 4.3 percent for 2009-10, the smallest increase in the survey since 1972-3, when the hike was similar. The survey results reflect 350 members of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. The College Board releases a more comprehensive analysis of changes in college costs in the fall. A NAICU spokesman said that the association's results are usually within two- or three-tenths of a percentage point of the College Board data. Last year, NAICU found a 5.7 percent increase and the College Board found a 5.9 percent increase for private colleges.
This in no way means that private colleges are cheap but administrators have more controle over the resources. Private colleges also serve as some of the best places to get a full education at a limited cost.
You can gain more information at www.freecollegeeducation.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Obama Pushes On-Line Education
Community colleges and high schools would receive federal funds to create free, online courses in a program that is in the final stages of being drafted by the Obama administration.
The program is part of a series of efforts to help community colleges reach more students and to link basic skills education to job training. The proposals are outlined in administration discussion drafts obtained by Inside Higher Ed. A formal announcement could come in the next few weeks. In addition to the free online courses, the plan would provide $9 billion over 10 years to help community colleges develop and improve programs related to preparing students for good jobs, and a $10 billion loan fund (at low or no interest) for community college facilities.
While this may seem as a great initiative its really more complicated than indicated. First, anyone who has enrolled in an online college course knows that these courses are more difficult than conventional. Also, many organizations do not view on-line education as credible so though you may earn that degree, someone who has received a conventional or blended education may be viewed with greater favor.
On-line education is definitely a buyer beware product and should be deeply evaluated prior to engagement.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/29/ccplan
The program is part of a series of efforts to help community colleges reach more students and to link basic skills education to job training. The proposals are outlined in administration discussion drafts obtained by Inside Higher Ed. A formal announcement could come in the next few weeks. In addition to the free online courses, the plan would provide $9 billion over 10 years to help community colleges develop and improve programs related to preparing students for good jobs, and a $10 billion loan fund (at low or no interest) for community college facilities.
While this may seem as a great initiative its really more complicated than indicated. First, anyone who has enrolled in an online college course knows that these courses are more difficult than conventional. Also, many organizations do not view on-line education as credible so though you may earn that degree, someone who has received a conventional or blended education may be viewed with greater favor.
On-line education is definitely a buyer beware product and should be deeply evaluated prior to engagement.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/29/ccplan
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Dont Spend Your Money
Families can spend thousands of dollars on coaching to help college-bound students boost their SAT scores. But a new report finds that these test-preparation courses aren't as beneficial as consumers are led to believe.
The report, to be released Wednesday by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, criticizes common test-prep-industry marketing practices, including promises of big score gains with no hard data to back up such claims. The report also finds fault with the frequent use of mock SAT tests because they can be devised to inflate score gains when students take the actual SAT. The association represents 11,000 college admissions officers, high-school guidance counselors and private advisors.
"It breaks my heart to see families who can't afford it spending money they desperately need on test prep when no evidence would indicate that this is money well-spent," says William Fitzsimmons, Harvard University's dean of undergraduate admissions, who led a group at the college admissions association that prompted the report.
While many parents feel that they are don't the best for their student by paying for test coaching, research indicates that coaching is not cost effective. And with many colleges and universities doing away with the test, there is really no need to take it. You do not need an SAT or ACT to enter many highly ranked academic institutions you just need to know how to enter.
The report, to be released Wednesday by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, criticizes common test-prep-industry marketing practices, including promises of big score gains with no hard data to back up such claims. The report also finds fault with the frequent use of mock SAT tests because they can be devised to inflate score gains when students take the actual SAT. The association represents 11,000 college admissions officers, high-school guidance counselors and private advisors.
"It breaks my heart to see families who can't afford it spending money they desperately need on test prep when no evidence would indicate that this is money well-spent," says William Fitzsimmons, Harvard University's dean of undergraduate admissions, who led a group at the college admissions association that prompted the report.
While many parents feel that they are don't the best for their student by paying for test coaching, research indicates that coaching is not cost effective. And with many colleges and universities doing away with the test, there is really no need to take it. You do not need an SAT or ACT to enter many highly ranked academic institutions you just need to know how to enter.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dollar for Dollar for Veterns Education
Starting this fall, veterans will be able to attend more than 500 private colleges and out-of-state public institutions at a reduced price, thanks to a dollar-for-dollar federal matching program created under last year’s GI bill.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
High-Degree Professionals Show Power
Workers with professional degrees, such as doctors and lawyers, were the only educational group to see their inflation-adjusted earnings increase over the most recent economic expansion, adding to the concern that the economy has benefited higher-earning Americans at the expense of others.
Workers in every other educational group -- including Ph.D.s as well as high school dropouts -- earned less in 2007 than they did in 2000, adjusted for inflation, according to data from the Census Bureau. Data don't include 2008 earnings.
The recent data are the latest reminder of how college degrees, long seen as a path to the middle class, no longer guarantees fatter paychecks every year. The statistics also indicate how deeply economic divisions have grown despite the economic expansion that started in 2001. Both presidential candidates have proposed policies to address this inequality.
Workers in every other educational group -- including Ph.D.s as well as high school dropouts -- earned less in 2007 than they did in 2000, adjusted for inflation, according to data from the Census Bureau. Data don't include 2008 earnings.
The recent data are the latest reminder of how college degrees, long seen as a path to the middle class, no longer guarantees fatter paychecks every year. The statistics also indicate how deeply economic divisions have grown despite the economic expansion that started in 2001. Both presidential candidates have proposed policies to address this inequality.
US high school graduation rate climbs to 69.2 percent
When high school seniors finally grasp their hard-earned diplomas, an average of 3 out of 10 classmates aren't beside them. In some communities in the United States, more than half of high-school students don't make it to graduation.
But despite the complex, stubborn problems behind those numbers, a new report shows a decade's worth of modest gains in graduation rates. In 1996, the national on-time graduation rate was 66.4 percent; by 2006, that figure had risen to 69.2 percent. Much greater gains were made by thousands of school districts, including some struggling with high levels of poverty.
The district-by-district analysis is part of "Diplomas Count 2009," the fourth annual report on graduation rates by Education Week and the Editorial Projects in Education (EPE) Research Center, a nonprofit in Bethesda, Md.
"The good news is that a large number of school districts are making progress in boosting graduation rates, but nationally we're still largely flat-lining ... so [there's] a lot more work to be done," says John Bridgeland, president and CEO of Civic Enterprises, a public-policy firm in Washington that has also studied dropouts.
As concerns mount about US competitiveness globally, the calls are becoming more urgent for improving high schools and ensuring that more students are ready to pursue further education or training. President Obama recently called on all Americans to complete at least one year of education beyond high school and cautioned that "dropping out of high school is no longer an option."
But despite the complex, stubborn problems behind those numbers, a new report shows a decade's worth of modest gains in graduation rates. In 1996, the national on-time graduation rate was 66.4 percent; by 2006, that figure had risen to 69.2 percent. Much greater gains were made by thousands of school districts, including some struggling with high levels of poverty.
The district-by-district analysis is part of "Diplomas Count 2009," the fourth annual report on graduation rates by Education Week and the Editorial Projects in Education (EPE) Research Center, a nonprofit in Bethesda, Md.
"The good news is that a large number of school districts are making progress in boosting graduation rates, but nationally we're still largely flat-lining ... so [there's] a lot more work to be done," says John Bridgeland, president and CEO of Civic Enterprises, a public-policy firm in Washington that has also studied dropouts.
As concerns mount about US competitiveness globally, the calls are becoming more urgent for improving high schools and ensuring that more students are ready to pursue further education or training. President Obama recently called on all Americans to complete at least one year of education beyond high school and cautioned that "dropping out of high school is no longer an option."
Monday, June 8, 2009
Private Colleges Getting Weaker
Moody's is projecting "sharp deterioration" in the financial outlook for many private colleges in the next fiscal year. Not only will recent investment losses be showing up on balance sheets, but many factors related to the economic downturn are likely to be more evident in the next two years, Moody's said. Moody's issues bond ratings, which have a significant impact on the cost of debt for colleges. Among the trends that Moody's sees for many private colleges in the next two years: less tuition pricing flexibility, enrollment declines as students attend lower-priced institutions, delays in capital investment and slowing of tuition, gift, and endowment revenue.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Schools Cancel GMAT Scores
Top U.S. business schools canceled the admissions-test scores of 84 applicants and students -- including two enrolled at the University of Chicago and one who has graduated from Stanford University -- who allegedly supplied or accessed live exam questions posted on a Web site.
While obtaining the test questions on line was viewed as unethical, you do not have to take the GMAT to enter into all Graduate Programs. There are some that waive scores and accept based on previous accomplishment and GPA.
If you do a bit of research you can many that do not accept the GMAT. For more information look at www.freecollegeducation.com
While obtaining the test questions on line was viewed as unethical, you do not have to take the GMAT to enter into all Graduate Programs. There are some that waive scores and accept based on previous accomplishment and GPA.
If you do a bit of research you can many that do not accept the GMAT. For more information look at www.freecollegeducation.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
