Image via WikipediaOK, OK, all the time, we hear how low our tuition is compared to our peer institutions in neighboring states - much less in comparison to national figures. Well, the bottom line is that an education at Southeastern is a bargain - a Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, Dollar Tree-level bargain compared to what students pay in Texas (even BEFORE TOPS kicks in!).
This was driven home by reading this article by Erin Mulvaney of the Dallas Morning News:
Texas' financial aid for college students could dwindle even more | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News
Her article spoke to the rapid rise that in tuition and fees that has occurred over the past five years or so across the landscape of Texas public colleges and universities (and trust me, you will see sticker shock!). Now, I'm not quite yet in the teen college shopping experience just yet, but Mulvaney's article prompted me to do a little research comparing the total tab at my alma mater (Stephen F. Austin) and Southeastern. According to the tuition and fee calculator on their website, your Fall 2010 tuition and fees at Stephen F. Austin State University would run you - are you sitting down - $3,498.75 if you are a Texas resident or if you are from Louisiana, you would still be able to pay at that level due to the fact they offer Louisiana-residents a "border state rate." What's your tab for Fall 2010 at Southeastern Louisiana University - even AFTER our 10% tuition increase - $2,014.80. OK, quick math - that means for the same size, same level school, the Texas version would run you $1,483.95 - almost 74% more! Multiply that by a full academic year and then times the 4, 5, 6 years you would be attending - hey, that's your new Hyundai or a nice down payment on a house (and again, that's based on the tab BEFORE your TOPS scholarship applies)!
When you look at those kind of numbers, you understand why our higher education leaders keep emphasizing how low our tuition is and while yes, it makes your checking account happy today, but to stay a leading university, Southeastern and all Louisiana institutions have to have a proper level of support AND students paying a bill that is not at the "Big Lots" level!
David
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