I go to a community college which is a LOT cheaper, but still, buying books and supplies ends up being quite a lot compared to the tuition! I really think that teachers in community colleges should reconsider those $250 math books and stick with something more affordable.  It's not Harvard, for chrissake.

I recently found out that Bill Gates Foundation is working on free online education.  I know it is at least for high school level math and history, because I looked at the program to use in my home school classes.  

But I think their vision is to offer it for college too.  You should check into it.  

I think colleges are going to have to reinvent themselves in the next few years.  All costs associated with education are too high.

Stick with it though, and get your degree. 

Kim

For what its worth:

• Colleges and Universities have just become for-profit institutions (IMHO) Yes, they are too expensive and yes, they let people in who 30 years ago would not have been "college material." 
• We have budget cut trade schools out of existence and I expect that very soon your plumber or AC guy will make a better salary than a college educated person. Sadly, though, most parents still prefer to brag about little Johnny's college degree (even if it means he still lives at home.) Few will brag, "Johnny is a mechanic...who lives in his own home and pays his own bills."
• Textbooks are also big business.
• Education in the US is getting to be more about the money and less about the education.
• Why yes, I am a bit angry about that. Sorry. Now I will add a smiley so I don't seem too rude. 

I think that is one reason the cost of college is so high. Schools know that many of their students won't finish so they have to cover costs. For instance, when my daughter started college freshman were REQUIRED to purchase a meal plan. Recently, the same university made the decision to REQUIRE freshman to live in a dorm on campus. My theory is they are trying to get as much money as they can from the HUGE number of kids coming in to help defray operational costs for the decreasing number of sophomores, juniors, seniors and grad students.

I again point to the loss of many vocational and skills training programs in our schools as a partial reason for drop-out rates.

It's difficult to really pinpoint what is happening, but I have a theory that the barriers to learning are opening.

It used to be that you almost had to attend a university to get an education, because they held the information.  Now, self education is so much easier because there is almost free access to information.

Plus, I think certain careers are changing so quickly, that colleges can't keep curriculum current enough.

The challenges are never ending, and if they keep driving up the costs, they will keep driving away applicants.

It's just not sustainable for the average family to send kids to college.

All this and I am married to a Harvard guy.  

Kim

www.confabulicious.com

Julie,

There still is definitely a belief that permeates corporate america that someone with a degree is "more qualified".  However, I do believe that smart employers will start looking at different hiring and screening practices that help them identify the right skills rather than the right set of classes.

And, I believe there will be an increase in entrepreneurship and independent consultants.

We are at turning point.  We continue to rank lower and lower internationally in education and yet the costs are increasing exponentially.  How can that be sustainable?  And what are the students getting out of it other than long term debt?

I am really fascinated by this whole subject and am trying to figure out some way to get involved to change the system.  

It's not really clear yet, but I really believe it is important if we want our children to be successful.

Kim

I think we may have lost a little perspective on how much it should cost--it's okay for it to be expensive--it's an investment in a lifetime. When I graduated from college, it cost about $8000 per year at a state school--but the minimum wage was $2.90 an hour. That means a college education should be about 2.5 times what it was then--or about $20K.

A college education is not for everyone. Somehow, we;ve convinced ourselves that it is and that everyone should be able to afford it. I think it's more important to ask "who will most benefit from a college education," and then make sure that there is a way for every one of them to get that education.

I, by the way, was not one of those who necessarily did benefit. In fact, I've never used my accounting degree. Was it important for society to make sure that I could receive it?

Fabuloso

You make most excellent points.  I think there needs to be more and better technical training available for kids who want a different path.

I guess as parents our toughest job is to look at each of our kids as individuals and pursue what is best for them.

Kim

You've touched on a topic that is near and dear to my heart: education. I'm a teacher and so are most of the females in my family. I have five children and only one of them finished college (my daughter) Two (the twins) will start this fall...we'll see if they finish or not. I totally agree that college is not for everyone and that it is getting beyond affordable (try doing two at a time) In this horrible economy I don't know what the answer is. I do know this, that as the daughter of an educator and someone who believes with her whole heart that education can make a difference it has been extremely hard for me to accept the fact that my sons don't want a college education (the two oldest). Every child is different and we all have a purpose in life. If they choose to do without it then as a mom I have to accept that and respect it but it's hard.  Thanks for listening! Teresa