Anonymous
09/18/2025 00:03
Subject: Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why do universities have to social engineers, giving free tuition to adults with low income parents and overcharging adults with higher incomes?
An adult with higher income parents more than likely has to finance the whole education with debt. Why does that adult deserve to be buried in debt when an adult who gets the same education, same career prospects, but parent make less, pays nothing?
Higher income folks CHOOSE to go in debt to finance education. No one is forcing them. Wide price range to obtain an education.
If a restaurant charges $200 for Blacks while charges $100 for Whites, is that OK because they are not forced to eat at the restaurant?
Blacks can just simply go to other restaurant?
There's discrimination in pricing.
Yes, in part because any pricing is discriminatory. Particularly when kids and young adults are involved.
It isn't realistic to expect people to work their way through college, paying their way in the process. While I agree college could be cheaper if there were different incentives and pressure, the realities of the current cost-of-living, the cost of the resources needed to support the modern post-secondary curriculum, and the time demands of STEM degrees, make that impractical. And we certainly don't expect kids to save enough for college during their teenage years.
So flat-rate tuition inherently discriminates against people whose parents can't or won't fund their college education. That's outside the control of those individuals.
You apparently think it is better to discriminate in favor of people with rich and cooperative parents, but many would disagree. That's probably not good for society or schools.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 20:32
Subject: Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Many colleges are not needs blind so the kids coming in with significant need likely came in with higher credentials and thus raise the prestige of the school.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 20:25
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We price education in this country frighteningly similar to how we price healthcare. We make it intentionally complex, with opaque pricing. Many people feel they're getting overcharged. They system benefits the bureaucrats -- not the consumer. Other countries seem to do it much simpler.
There are people making the case for a simple transparent system, and others who are blaming the people who are complaining about the f’d up system. This is why the 1% wins. The people in the 25% blame the people in the 10%. The real problem in higher ed is that people havent saved enough or they’re entitled. Got it.
That wasn’t what people were complaining about. People attacked low income students getting “free” rides to top schools. Education is a human right. However, that right ends when you say you have a right to a T20 education. The cost of colleges has grown to be absolutely insane. But, the real problem people have with college costs are for the schools THEY want their kids to go to.
I don’t see anyone complaining about ODU’s in state full cost of attendance (which is $28,596 for the year for on campus housing AND a meal plan).
Or Salisbury’s total COA being $30,996 for in state.
Let’s say you don’t want your child to go to a public school, maybe you prefer LACs. Goucher is really high with $77k COA. However, I did the NPC for a student with a 3.9 UW, 1510 SAT (what seems to be the average for DCUM) and there was a $38k scholarship which made the price $39k.
Now, the mid-tier LACs/Colleges That Change Lives have exorbitant prices going to $80k a year, but if any are like Goucher and want exceptional students then your kid would have no problem getting merit.
Yes, fight for lower college tuition and accessible and affordable education. But, do not point your fingers at Pell Grant recipients who make up less than 20% of T20s for getting full rides when those kids are more often than not going to college altogether.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 20:23
Subject: Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:.................
because college shouldn't be limited to the wealthy???
Jesus, op.
Op could suggest an auction for spots and then ensure that spots go to those who are most willing to pay for them.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 19:52
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:We price education in this country frighteningly similar to how we price healthcare. We make it intentionally complex, with opaque pricing. Many people feel they're getting overcharged. They system benefits the bureaucrats -- not the consumer. Other countries seem to do it much simpler.
There are people making the case for a simple transparent system, and others who are blaming the people who are complaining about the f’d up system. This is why the 1% wins. The people in the 25% blame the people in the 10%. The real problem in higher ed is that people havent saved enough or they’re entitled. Got it.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 17:17
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:College tuition has no transparency.
There's the insanely high "sticker price" that is very hard for all but the 1% to afford.
But then colleges tout a reasonable net cost, like $25k, as what most people really pay. Which makes them look less like societal bad guys.
But a lot of regular upper-middle class families in expensive regions like DC who make around $300k find out they don't qualify for aid -- but can't afford $100k a year (thanks to the usual life stuff like their own student loans, medical bills, caring for aging parents, etc, although folks here like to say its too much avocado toast)
But then they're told to apply anyway because they might get merit aid. And then things turn into comparing offers from what seems like used cars salesmen. Last year schools like Syracuse were throwing merit awards at families as late as the summer.
This is maddening and stressful.
And has many of these families are left wondering why they grind away in stressful jobs when they still can't afford private college at the end of their (very long) day.
Are you also concerned about the families that are grinding away in stressful jobs for very long days — but make, say, $30,000 instead of $300,000? Or are you only concerned about the ones who “can’t afford $100,000”? Here’s a thought: If education is really what they value, they can go downscale, and prioritize using their very high incomes to support education for their kids. It’s less the avocado toast and more the expensive upscale amenities that they’ve probably become used to. Of course the first hurdle is getting their kid in. Perhaps if they have to pay for private counselors and tutors, their kids should be casting wider nets to find good fits that suit their interests.
But the $30k families can send their kids to college for free. My life would be some much easier if I took a 50% pay cut and sent my kids to college for free. Financially it would be a wash, but my quality of life would be so much better. I just realized this too late, unfortunately.
The only thing that low income kid is going to get is a Pell grant, and it ain’t much.
I think the PP might be referring to the very small number of schools like Yale and maybe Harvard that offer free rides to kids from families with certain income levels. What they don’t seem to get is the extremely tiny number of kids that this applies to, who, of course have to get accepted first. They seem to want to stir up animosity towards the tiny number of low income kids who have overcome immeasurable odds to make it into a top tier school, while complaining about the cost of application fees for families who are quite wealthy by most standards.
Beyond that, yes: Pell grants are small, particularly in comparison with the costs of attending college.
+1000
I can’t imagine these people would have the absolute gall to say this to a low income student’s face. You’re first in your family to go to college, coming from let’s say a rural area, working a job that interferes with your school work to help your family, and you beat the odds and do well and get an acceptance to a top school and your family doesn’t have to worry about the cost that would definitely put them into debt… and someone tells you don’t deserve it because with their $300,000 income they can’t afford a T20.
Laughable. Mind you there are plenty of schools that aren’t anywhere near the $100k a year sticker price. UMC people love to think they’re part of the upper crust because they live in nice neighborhoods and drive nice cars. Then they get hit with the newsflash that they are upper MIDDLE CLASS and can’t keep up with the Joneses when their DC gets to go to UPenn with no worries. Nevermind the plentiful state schools in Maryland, Virginia, or schools like Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, etc. that would throw money at their own supposedly bright kid.
Just admit you thought you would easily have a seat at the table with the “other” elites but you opened your pocketbook and saw you didn’t have enough. 3,000+ colleges and universities in the US. But it’s a crime if my kid has to go to UVA, VT, or God forbid… Towson or JMU, because I didn’t save enough for them to get a luxury college experience at Stanford.
The reality, too, is that schools like Harvard, Yale, and even Brown and Johns Hopkins will have relatively small class sizes — and students will be applying from all over the world for a limited number of seats. It’s probably a shock to some to learn that even if they CAN afford to pay for it, their money won’t guarantee that their UMC kid will get admitted.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 16:36
Subject: Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why do universities have to social engineers, giving free tuition to adults with low income parents and overcharging adults with higher incomes?
An adult with higher income parents more than likely has to finance the whole education with debt. Why does that adult deserve to be buried in debt when an adult who gets the same education, same career prospects, but parent make less, pays nothing?
Higher income folks CHOOSE to go in debt to finance education. No one is forcing them. Wide price range to obtain an education.
If a restaurant charges $200 for Blacks while charges $100 for Whites, is that OK because they are not forced to eat at the restaurant?
Blacks can just simply go to other restaurant?
There's discrimination in pricing.
The exact same hamburger that can be had for $5 can cost $50 somewhere else. You are also paying for the restaurants rent, etc. Surely you understand that??? Don't you???
that is not a good analogy. charging different prices for the same education is not like
paying different prices for the same hamburger at different restaurants. It is like paying different prices for the same
hamburger AT THE SAME restaurant. If you make 300k a year you pay $50, if you make 100k a year you get it for
free. (at some private schools its free tuition for families earning up to 200k now!)
Anonymous
09/17/2025 16:12
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:College tuition has no transparency.
There's the insanely high "sticker price" that is very hard for all but the 1% to afford.
But then colleges tout a reasonable net cost, like $25k, as what most people really pay. Which makes them look less like societal bad guys.
But a lot of regular upper-middle class families in expensive regions like DC who make around $300k find out they don't qualify for aid -- but can't afford $100k a year (thanks to the usual life stuff like their own student loans, medical bills, caring for aging parents, etc, although folks here like to say its too much avocado toast)
But then they're told to apply anyway because they might get merit aid. And then things turn into comparing offers from what seems like used cars salesmen. Last year schools like Syracuse were throwing merit awards at families as late as the summer.
This is maddening and stressful.
And has many of these families are left wondering why they grind away in stressful jobs when they still can't afford private college at the end of their (very long) day.
Are you also concerned about the families that are grinding away in stressful jobs for very long days — but make, say, $30,000 instead of $300,000? Or are you only concerned about the ones who “can’t afford $100,000”? Here’s a thought: If education is really what they value, they can go downscale, and prioritize using their very high incomes to support education for their kids. It’s less the avocado toast and more the expensive upscale amenities that they’ve probably become used to. Of course the first hurdle is getting their kid in. Perhaps if they have to pay for private counselors and tutors, their kids should be casting wider nets to find good fits that suit their interests.
But the $30k families can send their kids to college for free. My life would be some much easier if I took a 50% pay cut and sent my kids to college for free. Financially it would be a wash, but my quality of life would be so much better. I just realized this too late, unfortunately.
The only thing that low income kid is going to get is a Pell grant, and it ain’t much.
I think the PP might be referring to the very small number of schools like Yale and maybe Harvard that offer free rides to kids from families with certain income levels. What they don’t seem to get is the extremely tiny number of kids that this applies to, who, of course have to get accepted first. They seem to want to stir up animosity towards the tiny number of low income kids who have overcome immeasurable odds to make it into a top tier school, while complaining about the cost of application fees for families who are quite wealthy by most standards.
Beyond that, yes: Pell grants are small, particularly in comparison with the costs of attending college.
+1000
I can’t imagine these people would have the absolute gall to say this to a low income student’s face. You’re first in your family to go to college, coming from let’s say a rural area, working a job that interferes with your school work to help your family, and you beat the odds and do well and get an acceptance to a top school and your family doesn’t have to worry about the cost that would definitely put them into debt… and someone tells you don’t deserve it because with their $300,000 income they can’t afford a T20.
Laughable. Mind you there are plenty of schools that aren’t anywhere near the $100k a year sticker price. UMC people love to think they’re part of the upper crust because they live in nice neighborhoods and drive nice cars. Then they get hit with the newsflash that they are upper MIDDLE CLASS and can’t keep up with the Joneses when their DC gets to go to UPenn with no worries. Nevermind the plentiful state schools in Maryland, Virginia, or schools like Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, etc. that would throw money at their own supposedly bright kid.
Just admit you thought you would easily have a seat at the table with the “other” elites but you opened your pocketbook and saw you didn’t have enough. 3,000+ colleges and universities in the US. But it’s a crime if my kid has to go to UVA, VT, or God forbid… Towson or JMU, because I didn’t save enough for them to get a luxury college experience at Stanford.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 15:06
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:College tuition has no transparency.
There's the insanely high "sticker price" that is very hard for all but the 1% to afford.
But then colleges tout a reasonable net cost, like $25k, as what most people really pay. Which makes them look less like societal bad guys.
But a lot of regular upper-middle class families in expensive regions like DC who make around $300k find out they don't qualify for aid -- but can't afford $100k a year (thanks to the usual life stuff like their own student loans, medical bills, caring for aging parents, etc, although folks here like to say its too much avocado toast)
But then they're told to apply anyway because they might get merit aid. And then things turn into comparing offers from what seems like used cars salesmen. Last year schools like Syracuse were throwing merit awards at families as late as the summer.
This is maddening and stressful.
And has many of these families are left wondering why they grind away in stressful jobs when they still can't afford private college at the end of their (very long) day.
Are you also concerned about the families that are grinding away in stressful jobs for very long days — but make, say, $30,000 instead of $300,000? Or are you only concerned about the ones who “can’t afford $100,000”? Here’s a thought: If education is really what they value, they can go downscale, and prioritize using their very high incomes to support education for their kids. It’s less the avocado toast and more the expensive upscale amenities that they’ve probably become used to. Of course the first hurdle is getting their kid in. Perhaps if they have to pay for private counselors and tutors, their kids should be casting wider nets to find good fits that suit their interests.
But the $30k families can send their kids to college for free. My life would be some much easier if I took a 50% pay cut and sent my kids to college for free. Financially it would be a wash, but my quality of life would be so much better. I just realized this too late, unfortunately.
The only thing that low income kid is going to get is a Pell grant, and it ain’t much.
I think the PP might be referring to the very small number of schools like Yale and maybe Harvard that offer free rides to kids from families with certain income levels. What they don’t seem to get is the extremely tiny number of kids that this applies to, who, of course have to get accepted first. They seem to want to stir up animosity towards the tiny number of low income kids who have overcome immeasurable odds to make it into a top tier school, while complaining about the cost of application fees for families who are quite wealthy by most standards.
Beyond that, yes: Pell grants are small, particularly in comparison with the costs of attending college.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 15:04
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:The business term is "price discrimination" and extracting as much as possible from each tier of customer, based on their ability/willingness to pay.
For example, international students pay full fare (not eligible fro financial aid).
You see the same with airlines, and even movie theaters. Why does the same movie cost half the price when you see it during the weekday matinee compared to Friday night? It's the same movie after all.
And that helps in subsidizing American poor students and in-state students. NOW, because of Trump's racist policies the international students are going to other countries.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 15:02
Subject: Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why do universities have to social engineers, giving free tuition to adults with low income parents and overcharging adults with higher incomes?
An adult with higher income parents more than likely has to finance the whole education with debt. Why does that adult deserve to be buried in debt when an adult who gets the same education, same career prospects, but parent make less, pays nothing?
Higher income folks CHOOSE to go in debt to finance education. No one is forcing them. Wide price range to obtain an education.
If a restaurant charges $200 for Blacks while charges $100 for Whites, is that OK because they are not forced to eat at the restaurant?
Blacks can just simply go to other restaurant?
There's discrimination in pricing.
The exact same hamburger that can be had for $5 can cost $50 somewhere else. You are also paying for the restaurants rent, etc. Surely you understand that??? Don't you???
Anonymous
09/17/2025 14:58
Subject: Re:Why can't universities have a flat tuition where everyone pays the same?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In the current system, colleges say "Pay us $75 and pour your time and heart into an application and THEN we'll tell you how much it costs for you to go to our school."
I don't know of any other industry where you have to put up cash just to find out the cost of a product.
Well, people always know THE cost of the product. Anyone who wants to go full pay can just start there. Most will have the option of lower cost community colleges, and many have state schools if cost is the issue. People genuinely in need can ask to have application fees waived. So the people you’re advocating for are people who are expecting a break in the already subsidized costs — with whatever people-powers are needed to run the paperwork just for them, done free of charge? Who do you think should pay for that— multiplied by tens of thousands?
No, silly. The point is: have a flat fee that is clearly communicated up front so nobody has to "run the paper work".
Then what’s with the whining about the insanely high sticker prices and the application fees? There are “flat fees”. The people that the OP (PP?) seems concerned about can just pay them. No paperwork needed.