Costs

American colleges and universities spend billions of dollars a year from state, federal, and private sources. The following articles identify ways to cut costs and ensure that public investment in higher education provides value to students, taxpayers, and society.


Understanding In-State Tuition

When determining tuition costs, public colleges and universities typically distinguish between in-state and out-of-state students, with in-state tuition set at a far lower rate than out-of-state tuition. In North Carolina,…




A Memo to College Presidents

The higher-education landscape has been radically transformed in recent months. Yet, for all the excited headlines and frenetic chatter, I’m not sure that college presidents, trustees, and alumni groups fully…


From High School to Law School

Recently, I had the pleasure to interview a North Carolina State University alum, Richard Basile, who graduated with his bachelor’s degree last December at only 19 years of age. By…



Trade Schools Are Tackling the Ivies

Ivy League schools have long captured the hearts and minds of Americans and are often believed to represent the best possible educational endeavors available in the United States. Yet a…


Are Microcredentials Worth the Cost?

In recent years, short-term credentials (also known as “microcredentials” or “postsecondary programs and certificates … which generally take one year or less to earn”) have gained traction among students wishing…


Checking In On Tuition Freezes

About a decade ago, public universities around the country began freezing tuition in response to student and parent complaints about the high costs of a college education. In the years…


Saint Augustine’s Hail Mary

Saint Augustine’s University (SAU), a private Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Raleigh, N.C., announced on December 11 that it had been removed from membership with the Southern Association…