PeakTrader.com

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Roy:

NOT EVERYONE NEED A COLLEGE EDUCATION!!! A lot of people do just fine with out a degree. I know two people, with 4 year degrees with are working at low paying jobs. I do have a college degree, but not working in that field. My job as a Senior Fitness-Exercise Instructor doesn’t require a degree.

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PeakTrader:

However, over 50 years ago, when life spans were shorter and a high school diploma was equal to a four-year college degree, would you have said not everyone need a high school education?

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In the 1930s, U.S. life expectancy (men and women) was about 63. Now, it’s about 80.

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I didn’t expect to get an economist job when I completed my economics degrees, because I didn’t want to go into teaching or government (where most of the jobs were).

Nonetheless, a well-rounded undergrad education, along with a specialized grad education, helped me tremendously, both directly and indirectly.

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Yes, college costs have been rising much faster than inflation:

Costs for 2011–12 Year at CU-Boulder

The figures below are estimates based on a single undergraduate student enrolled full time for an academic year of two semesters.

Resident Expenses

Tuition and Fees: $9,152–$13,742
On-campus Room and Board (based on double occupancy): $11,278
Books and Supplies: $1,992
On-campus Estimated Total: $22,422–$27,012

Nonresident Expenses

Tuition and Fees: $30,330–$33,880
On-campus Room and Board (based on double occupancy): $11,278
Books and Supplies: $1,992
On-campus Estimated Total: $43,600–$47,150

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Annual percent increase in tuition and fees:

http://www.colorado.edu/pba/budget/tuitionfees/history.html

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Walt:

From the institution’s perspective, at least in Michigan, you have two revenue streams: 1) the student, and 2) government support (state, federal and local property tax (for community colleges)). If you only look at the student tuition and fees, you are only looking at somewhere between 25% to 75% of the income per student, so any trend analysis has to have the other revenue source held constant for a valid comparison. Most of Michigan’s increase in student tuition the last decade or so is due to the drop in support from the state.

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PeakTrader:

Walt, here’s what CU-Boulder says:

“Non-resident tuition comprises two-thirds of our revenue and continues to subsidize the education of our resident students.

The university’s cost of instruction is increasing by 3.4 percent. This increase includes the salaries for faculty and staff, health care costs, deferred maintenance, compliance, utility increases and other basic expenses, which grow each year.

…legally mandated pay increase that includes a 2 percent cost-of-living increase, with the possibility of an additional increase of up to 1.6 percent based on merit.

…the state of Colorado has cut its support for higher education down to the lowest level of support per student in the nation.”

http://www.colorado.edu/news/features/four-things-you-should-know-about-2013-14-tuition-increases

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So, it seems, non-resident students paying up to $33,880 a year in tuition and fees are overpaying, while resident students paying up to $13,742 a year in tuition and fees are underpaying.

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“Colorado – state funding per student for its major public universities – $3,417 per student compared to the national average – $9,082 – in 2010.”

http://www.collegian.com/2013/03/colorado-ranks-last-for-higher-education-funding-per-student/26607/

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http://www.aei-ideas.org/2013/09/markets-in-everything-the-10000-college-degree/#comments

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PeakTrader:

In the 1990s, Denver built three new pro stadiums, for football, baseball, and basketball/hockey, all in lower downtown. The result was a huge economic boom, which attracted affluent people from the suburbs back to downtown.

Lower downtown was almost completely renovated, new businesses started, streets were repaved, sidewalks repaired, a light rail system was built, a new central library (where the G-8 meeting was held one year), a new convention center, etc..

Moreover, outside of Denver, a new international airport was built.

Although ticket prices were raised, fans, i.e. fanatics, paid the higher prices.

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I think, most taxpayers would’ve concluded the huge amount of economic development in Denver, over a decade, was worth the $5.75 city tax taken out of paychecks.

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http://www.aei-ideas.org/2013/10/should-americas-favorite-sport-really-be-one-whose-economic-structure-is-based-on-inequality-and-greed/#comments

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