Rising Tuition Rates

Texas pushes students to attend college, but with the rising tuition rates they are pushing students away. Texas Universities have deregulated tuition rates. By deregulating tuition rates, the legislators covered themselves by making the tuition rates the universities problem. Therefore, making it seem like it is the universities fault for rising tuition, but it’s the Legislatures fault. Tuition at Texas Universities rose 58 percent between 2003, when schools were first allowed to set their own rates, and 2007. As a student it is hard to make ends meet with rising tuition and fees. Many students who would normally go straight to a four-year college or university are opting for community colleges for their first two years because the cost of attending those schools is considerably lower than a four-year college.
In an attempt to lesson college students’ financial load, the Texas Legislature will consider bills in January of next year that would freeze tuition rates and drop the sales tax on textbooks. We need an increase in federal and state funding of higher education, though the chances of receiving either might be very slim. Students and their family’s need the states help to keep the door open for college education. Freezing tuition will help, but at some point the state of Texas must pick up its share of college responsibility. This would help out students and not drive them away. The impact of higher tuition is reflected in the staggering debt some students accumulate by the time they receive their diplomas.