The average state per capita higher education in the US is $968. DC spends $223. The second lowest state spending on higher education per capita is Florida at $576. Maryland spends $1152 and Virginia $1020 per capita. If DC bothers to spend more on UDC, perhaps it could have a reputable faculty and accreditation so that it could also attract Federal research grants. |
They halved the cap while DC was in HS. We would have moved. They should have grandfathered kids in who were MS + HS. You get in-state tuition for every other state at any income level. |
The political incentives for DCTAG are a complete mess, though -- it's a federal program, so even if every household in D.C. used it, it wouldn't be broadly taken advantage of nationwide, plus the people eligible for it can't vote for someone who has a vote on whether to extend/expand/end/whatever it. The cap being higher or lower has virtually no effect on support for this program among the people who determine its future, none of whom represent anyone who can possibly use it. |
D.C. doesn't pay for TAG at all. |
Would gladly shut down UDC and require to DC to contribute that money to a federal pot if it meant DC kids could get in-state tuition anywhere in the country.
-DC Resident |
Following up on this - what DC really needs is a strong community college. And located somewhere more convenient than Ward 3. If you got rid of UDC and DCTAG in exchange for in-state tuition anywhere else in the country, those of lower means in DC could knock out the first two years at DC-CC and then transfer to UMD, GMU, or anywhere else in the country to finish up the final two years at in-state prices. Or finish up at Howard, Catholic U, GWU, etc. UDC's graduation rate is abysmal - only 35% within six years! https://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/edu/131399/university-of-the-district-of-columbia/graduation/ |
UDC offers AA degrees. Many years ago the idea was put forward with money behind it to move UDC to St Elizabeth’s so it could have a proper campus closer to most students. The idea was shot down because it was thought to be racist. I’m not kidding. |
DC people really do live in a different reality. I don’t think you could have a better example of hand out culture if you tried. What was originally set up as a pity program is now seen as an entitlement. Here’s a better idea: tell the mayor and the Council to fund UDC at an adequate level. Tell UDC to go out and solicit donations from alumni and corporations. Tell UDC faculty to go out and get grants. Tell UDC to raise tuition. You know, the things that every other state university does to fund itself. |
Yep! Lots of hand-wringing in the Post over how racist the move would be. Foreshadowing. |
Who could've guessed that giving Ward 7 and Ward 8 young adults a long 60+ minute commute each way - likely on top of a part-time job - would be terrible for graduation rates? Take out loans to go to UDC and then don't graduate. Brilliant maneuvering by our politicos. |
UDC will never be adequately funded as the District does not have a large enough tax base. The funding basis for powerhouse state schools is to tax the entire state and redistribute to the university system. And can you point me to this wealth-off alumni base of UDC?!?! That's a laughable suggestion. I get that UDC is a long-standing source of pride as an African-American land grant college. But there's soooooo many better options nearby that successfully graduate students on time and have strong professional networks + traditional college experiences - Howard, Bowie, Morgan State, etc. It would be better if DC young adults could just attend those at in-state prices. |
In-state tuition anywhere in the country would be amazing for D.C. residents, but I still don't see why any other state would want to agree to it. There's no way D.C. and the feds combined would kick in enough money to cover the full cost difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for D.C. students. And it's not like most public universities -- especially affordable ones -- are in dire need of applicants such that they need to offer some incentive to D.C. residents to look there. Why would this come to pass, other than because it'd be good? |
Utter nonsense. The DC budget is over $20 billion dollars. The budget for the entire state of Maryland is $60 billion. The budget for Montgomery County is $7 billion. DC has plenty of money to fund higher education. It just chooses not to. It’s another reason why DC will never be a state. |
It's true D.C. would have the money to fund education at about the scale Montgomery County does, but it's also true that a lot of that $20 billion represents payments for state-like functions that Montgomery County doesn't engage in, so these direct $$ comparisons are sort of unhelpful. D.C. probably could stand up a proper public university that's on par with non-flagship state schools nearby if it wanted to. Would be interesting to see how that unfolded if someone in public office were to make a serious push for it. I disagree with the idea that D.C. shouldn't become a state because it hasn't chosen to spend money in this way, though; statehood shouldn't be some kind of reward for "good" behavior. D.C. residents don't need to earn democracy. |
It would have been one of the most beautiful urban campuses in the united states. |