Don’t Scrap the Textbooks Yet
In August 2023, West Texas A&M University announced that it will stop requiring students to purchase textbooks in order to offset the soaring costs of higher education. Instead, the university…
Of Course UNCG Faculty Oppose Academic Cuts
A months-long saga at UNC Greensboro is coming to a close. The chancellor announced roughly four months ago that some academic offerings would be re-evaluated, and, as of February 1,…
Can the UNC System’s Return-On-Investment Findings Be Trusted?
A report on the financial returns on a UNC education, commissioned two years ago, was finally released in Nov. 2023. The study was done by the private consulting firm Deloitte,…
Administrative Bloat Makes Colleges Worse
New data from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) shed light on the cost-effectiveness and academic quality of higher education in North Carolina. ACTA used its survey of…
Duke Doesn’t Need “Economic Diversity”
The New York Times is on a tear about “economic diversity.” It’s got a naughty-and-nice list, defined by the number of students with Pell Grants, and it’s stapled a scarlet…
Let’s End the Deception About the Cost of College
Here’s a startling fact about higher education—nearly all colleges and universities list their prices deceptively. They post a high tuition figure, but very few of their customers (students, or as…
College Still Has Value, but Let’s Reassess the Price Tag
While there has been much discussion in recent years about whether a college degree is still necessary for success, a new survey has found that most Americans still see the…
More Ways to Control College Costs in 2023 and Beyond
STOP “FORGIVING” STUDENT DEBT Having graduated from an American private university just a few months ago, I know all too well the challenge my generation faces with rising tuition. While…
How to Control College Costs in 2023 and Beyond
TRY WORKING HARDER The college-costs question invites a raft of sensible responses. But I’m a simple guy, and I’ll offer a simple place to start: Students, teachers, and staff should…
How Much Do North Carolina’s Universities Spend?
College and university spending across the nation continues to exceed reasonable expectations. And North Carolina institutions are no exception. In the Tar Heel State and beyond, campuses continue to expand,…