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.

No Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Jun 15, 2009 ·

The major players in the scandal surrounding Mary Easley’s job at N.C. State were only ordinary flawed people who got caught in a perfect storm of unethical opportunities.

Raise Our Taxes, Please

Jun 4, 2009 ·

The largest professors’ association in North Carolina asks the legislature for progressive tax increases to address the state’s budget deficit.

The True Student-Loan Racket

Jun 1, 2009 ·

President Obama is planning to change the ways that students obtain loans, with more funds coming directly from the government rather than through subsidized lending. But the fundamental issues surrounding college loans aren’t going to change. They are worrisome.

If you are a taxpayer, you might be surprised at how generous the government is in providing loans and how lax about repayment. If you are a student, you should know that government policies change your incentives: they encourage you to borrow more than you should, to hold on to the loans for years without repaying them, and even to enter jobs that you wouldn’t otherwise have picked.

The Privileged Class

May 26, 2009 ·

The commotion about the university job of a former North Carolina governor’s wife reveals a larger pattern of undue influence throughout the UNC system.