How much of a tuition increase will make you leave the private schools that you are enrolled in?

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[Post New]08/13/2008 22:40
Anonymous
We will call it quits next year if tuition goes up more than $500. It is already hard to justify these costs. What are other families thoughts?
[Post New]08/13/2008 22:42
Anonymous
I think you can count on continued tuition increases.
[Post New]08/13/2008 22:49
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think you can count on continued tuition increases.


Really. I think the increases will slow down just as the economy has. As much as people talk about schools wanting the super rich, the reality is that they dont want to lose the more "normal" families and those families, no financial aid, very comfortable but not super rich, are the most likely to leave if the economy continues its probelms.
[Post New]08/13/2008 22:49
Anonymous
More than $500? That's only 2%.
[Post New]08/13/2008 22:53
Anonymous
Tuition at Beauvoir has increased $1530 (6.2%) since last year. It will have to be a pretty big slowdown to keep the next price hike below $500.
[Post New]08/13/2008 22:59
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:As much as people talk about schools wanting the super rich, the reality is that they dont want to lose the more "normal" families and those families, no financial aid, very comfortable but not super rich, are the most likely to leave if the economy continues its probelms.


I think there are plenty of very comfortable families waiting to take their place, especially at the most competitive schools. Most of these schools are not very large; they haven't exhausted the population of families that can afford private education.
[Post New]08/14/2008 07:01
Anonymous
The increases can not continue fatsre than the rate of inflation forever. That is basic economics. The OP was trying to find out what people's limits were.
[Post New]08/14/2008 07:53
Anonymous
I think the schools have very little leeway for holding down tuition increases ... unless they do not give their teachers a pay increase. I understand OP's feelings though, that is for sure. When we found a school we loved for DC, it was still four years before he would attend. We were worried about the original tuition price and then were FLABBERGASTED at the tuition rate four years later. Tuition has gone up 5 percent a year ... and I understand that this is low compared to some schools. Argh. But we have budgeted to assume a 5 percent annual increase going forward ... if the percent increase went up above that we would have to seriously reconsider. I don't think a $500 increase per year sounds so bad, but it certainly depends on the base amount.
[Post New]08/14/2008 07:55
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think there are plenty of very comfortable families waiting to take their place, especially at the most competitive schools. Most of these schools are not very large; they haven't exhausted the population of families that can afford private education.


I agree. The more competitive schools aren't having any difficulty finding families to sign on the dotted line. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/13/AR2008081303826.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008081304210&pos=
[Post New]08/14/2008 08:47
jhuber
Member Offline
I was curious how quickly today's front page WaPo article would be mentioned in this forum...

As referenced a few posts back, the single largest budget line item is for faculty salaries. We wish to attract and retain the best possible teachers for our students and parents. This is the quality of experience which sets apart independent schools - small class size, individualized attention, and dedicated, empowered faculty bringing out the best in our children. In seeking to keep great teachers, we must contend not only with the regular rise in inflation that our teachers face, but also competition with public schools for teachers. Of course, there are much more profitable fields than education, and I have seen wonderful teachers depart for the for-profit world so that they may better support themselves. Therefore without tuition increases or other sources of funding, I fear that there would be significant changes (such as larger classes, less experienced faculty, etc.) that would cause parents to question their tuition dollars.

A question to the original poster, if you're comfortable answering it - how much are you currently paying (approximately) in tuition, such that a $500+ increase is the tipping point?
[Post New]08/14/2008 08:51
Anonymous
I don't know why one of the PP's thinks that tuition cannot go up by more than the inflation rate continuously. That is exactly what has happened. The tuitions at area independent schools have increased by more than 7% a year over the last 15 years. That compares with inflation of less than 3% a year over the same period.

[Post New]08/14/2008 08:58
Anonymous
A bit ironic that acc to the Post article, at least some of the growth in tuition is attributable to growing demand for aid.
[Post New]08/14/2008 09:06
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I don't know why one of the PP's thinks that tuition cannot go up by more than the inflation rate continuously. That is exactly what has happened. The tuitions at area independent schools have increased by more than 7% a year over the last 15 years. That compares with inflation of less than 3% a year over the same period.



It is an economic fact. Nothing increases faster than inflation forever.

BTW no one else is getting raises in this economy, why should teachers.

This is ironic that we raise tuition to give more aid. That knocks the midlle class completely out of it. We can't afford to support the low income students.
[Post New]08/14/2008 09:43
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't know why one of the PP's thinks that tuition cannot go up by more than the inflation rate continuously. That is exactly what has happened. The tuitions at area independent schools have increased by more than 7% a year over the last 15 years. That compares with inflation of less than 3% a year over the same period.



It is an economic fact. Nothing increases faster than inflation forever.

BTW no one else is getting raises in this economy, why should teachers.

This is ironic that we raise tuition to give more aid. That knocks the midlle class completely out of it. We can't afford to support the low income students.


Yes, nothing increases faster than inflation FOREVER. However, forever is a non-issue. For parents paying for their children's education now, the issue is whether the school tuitions will increase at a rate higher than inflation over the next 12 or so years. There is no reason to think that private school tuition increases will now suddenly start to decelerate toward the rate of inflation (or any time soon). There is no evidence to suggest that.

[Post New]08/14/2008 12:16
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think there are plenty of very comfortable families waiting to take their place, especially at the most competitive schools. Most of these schools are not very large; they haven't exhausted the population of families that can afford private education.


I agree. The more competitive schools aren't having any difficulty finding families to sign on the dotted line. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/13/AR2008081303826.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008081304210&pos=



Did anyone else think the Sidwell quote was over the top?
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