During a week where New York University made international headlines by announcing a tuition-free medical school, LSU took the bold move of raising its fees … again, writes Business Report Executive Editor JR Ball in his latest column.
Greeting students arriving on Louisiana’s flagship campus last month was a $282 fee hike, bringing the annual tuition-and-fee tab for an in-state student to $11,950. Factor in room, board and an assortment of other costs, and, says LSU, today’s all-in number for a year of loving purple and living gold is $30,360.
“Since Jindal took office in 2008, tuition and fees at LSU have soared 155%, from $4,689 to the current $11,950,” Ball writes. “That’s more, according to CollegeBoard.org, than the cost of the University of Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Alabama.”
No flagship institution in America has hiked tuition and fees over the past five years at a higher rate than LSU—and it’s not even close, Ball writes.
Because LSU can’t raise tuition without legislative approval, rather than go through that hassle—and the impact on TOPS—it’s much easier for LSU to simply hike fees.
“Tuition for a full-time, in-state student taking 15 hours per semester at LSU will cost $8,047 this academic year,” Ball writes. That’s roughly 27% of the $30,360 LSU says it will take to attend. In other words, there’s $22,314 worth of other expenses that have zero to do with TOPS.
Some can cover that cost out-of-pocket. For everyone else, get in line for a loan.
Which brings up some questions, Ball writes.
“At what point do students start doing the math on the cost of a degree versus expected employment income and determine a college degree, in some fields, isn’t worth it?”
Read the full column. Send comments to editor@businessreport.com
