The recent economic downturn has had a serious effect on public higher education, and problems will linger for some years hence. The impact of this disinvestment has been particularly severe for the University of California. The dramatic decrease in state funding has necessitated large relative increases in education and registration fees for our…

The two big events in higher education during 2010 were the implementation of the Equality Act, and the introduction of a new dispensation on fees and funding. The former is intended to promote equality, the latter is premised on the need for economy. In this article, the author focuses on the effect of the latter on the former. He considers this…

The Browne review of higher education funding and student finance has been welcomed as "fair and progressive" by some and condemned as "elitist" and "socially disastrous" by others. In this article, some of the leading commentators and stakeholders from across the sector--Claire Callender, John Widdowson, Andy…

Fixed-tuition plans, which vary in specifics from institution to institution, rely on a common principle: Students pay the same annual tuition costs over a pre-determined length of time, ostensibly the time required to earn an undergraduate degree. Students, parents, and policymakers are demonstrating growing interest in such plans. At face value,…

The market for undergraduate education has many similarities to an arms race. A school's position, relative to other schools, determines its success in attracting students and student quality. Its position, in turn, is largely determined by the size of its student subsidies, the difference between its educational spending, and the net tuition it…

Discusses issues in school "pay-to-play" policies, the charging of fees for sports or other extracurricular activities, as a fund-raising strategy in response to budget shortfalls. Fees sometimes discourage economically disadvantaged students from participating and place pressure on parents. (LMI)

The Australian government's intention of reintroducing fees for second and higher degrees in tertiary educational institutions is examined. It is suggested that this policy is short-sighted and socially destructive, and that its financial value is trivial. (MLW)

In contrast to the most commonly suggested approaches to equalizing access to higher education in Australia, either permanently abolishing fees or reinstating fees, the most equitable solution would be to spend comparable amounts on all forms of postsecondary education and training, spreading resources to a broader range of programs and…

This paper examines the argument that education systems in development countries should be financed more directly by private households. It finds that cost-recovery policies are likely to be harmful to efficiency and equity if significant resources were to be generated by these means. User fees at primary and secondary levels would increase…

The requirement imposed upon Utah parents in 1986 authorizing student fees in secondary schools for those who do not qualify for free lunch denies many students an equal education. Using school fees to supplement public funding of education has a greater negative impact on rural families. Advocates adequate state funding of schools. Contains 15…

The idea of charging users directly for public services carries with it an ideological significance that frequently has inhibited discussions of technical questions such as how in practice full or marginal cost prices would be determined, or the effect of different price structures upon utilization rates for particular services. (MLW)

In March 1983, the California Postsecondary Education Commission recommended that the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges authorize community college districts to levy at their discretion a fee surcharge of not more than 10% of a mandatory general student charge. The objectives of levying the surcharge would be to increase…

One of the most important financial policy decisions a board of trustees must make is setting the rate of tuition. Escalating costs can be attributed to: preparing the budget based on projected expenses; external market focus; fee discounting; and trustees' complacence when large tuition increases are proposed. (MLW)

Recent trends in college costs and reasons why college costs have been increasing are considered. Comparative data are presented on recent rates of growth among average college charges, faculty salaries, the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It is shown that from 1977 through 1982, average total tuition,…

Australia's new policy of encouraging higher education to market its services to foreign students and introduce fees is examined. It is suggested that higher education needs to give more attention to long-term implications of the policy, including pricing, marketing, obtaining feedback, and clarity of communication with other cultural groups. (MSE)