|
In his State of the State speech, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland proposed an extension on the statewide college tuition freeze for another year for universities and another two years for community colleges. Strickland's proposal deserves lawmakers' support. Even with the recent tuition freeze, Ohio students still suffer from higher tuition costs than most students around the country. According to the College Board report from this past October, Ohio four-year public colleges are the eighth most expensive in the country. A nonprofit think-tank, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, has given Ohio an F for college affordability for the past four years. Clearly, sticker price for tuition is something that shouldn't be ignored. The good news is that according to the Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio colleges and universities saw enrollment rise 1.9 percent and 2.7 percent respectively during the two years of the tuition freeze, 2007 and 2008. Before that, enrollment only rose 0.3 percent from 2005 to 2006; from 2004 to 2005, enrollment dropped 0.3 percent. While the tuition freeze was not the only factor for increased enrollment, it was one of the reasons universities and colleges cited. Take note, lawmakers. Certainly, state representatives have the right to be concerned about funding higher education when the state budget is tight. It might seem easier to force students to stomach tuition hikes than to allocate taxpayer money to funding colleges - and perhaps, in the hallowed halls of the statehouse, it is. But for the students who are forced to pay tuition still above the national average, who are already shouldering thousands of dollars of debt, who know their parents can't afford to help them out, a tuition hike could be the last nail in the coffins of their educations. Make the right decision, Columbus. Students are relying on you. Editorials represent the views of The Post's executive editors. |
4 Opinion
Governor
