There are many factors that make college so expensive, tuition, textbooks, and Administrative salaries.
Nowadays, college has become more expensive than before. “Theories suggest financial Aid causes tuition increases.” More we borrow money more tuition fees are higher. “In 19970, financial aid programs were nonexistent .” Meaning that college was more cheaper than today. businessinsider.com/why-is-college-so-expensive-2018-4
Students are spending almost half of their money on textbooks. Each year, publishers are making our life more difficult by publishing new textbooks. “Almost 80% of textbook industry is dominated by 5 publishing companies. they use restrictive codes and re-publish new versions of textbook.” By doing this, they are making students spend more and more on textbook that we are going to use only once. nypost.com/2015/09/05/heres-the-reason-why-your-college-textbooks-are-so-expensive/
According to David A. Tomar in New York Times, “salaries of full-time faculty members are, on average, barely higher than they were in 1970. Moreover, while 45 years ago 78 percent of college and university professors were full time, today halt of postsecondary faculty members are lower-paid part-time employees, meaning that the average salaries of the people who do the teaching in American higher education are actually quite a bit lower that they were in 1970.” thebestchools.org/magazine/why-college-expensive/
In conclusion, college is so expensive in many reasons. Tuition, textbooks. and administrative salaries are one of them that make college so higher. thebestchools.org/magazine/why-college-expensive/ , nypost.com/2015/09/05/heres-the-reason-why-your-college-textbooks-are-so-expensive/ , and businessinsider.com/why-is-college-so-expensive-2018-4 are the sources that can help me to found those information.
The textbook cost is a good example to explain one of the reasons, that make college so expensive. Undoubtedly the newly published textbook every year and college requirements to have an access code for a particular course makes us unable to buy used textbook which is what most students can actually afford. It makes us hurt our pockets for a book that no longer will be in use after a semester nor can be sold since newly publish books are out and future students have the same requirement thats we did. This is how the cycle keeps on repeating.
I like fact you mention the cost of textbook.
Reflection: The fact that five companies dominate the most textbook industry is an intriguing assertion of monopoly toward higher education supply. By observing that 80% of the textbook industry that is under private companies control, it makes me think that our government is not regulating the textbook industry very well because those companies impose high prices on their products; that are not affordable for all college students. Therefore, I strongly agree with your argument that high textbook prices are increasing the cost of college, leading many students to be involved in the student debts of college.
Reflection:
I liked how you compared the salaries between faculty members now and from 1970 with: “salaries of full-time faculty members are, on average, barely higher than they were in 1970. Moreover, while 45 years ago 78 percent of college and university professors were full time, today halt of postsecondary faculty members are lower-paid part-time employees, meaning that the average salaries of the people who do the teaching in American higher education are actually quite a bit lower”, as it is reflective of the economy. Wages remained relatively stagnant, while cost of living and cost of education dramatically rose. It’s an effective counter to use against those that claim that we are too lazy and entitled
I believe that college is so expensive because it provides a different level of quality of life. Your quality of life increases with the more education you have and most employers value employees who have formal education. Of course a degree does not guarantee a certain quality of life, but up until now that has been the narrative. With that being said, these colleges most definitely do not want that quality of life to accessible to everyone. It levels the playing field too much for the higher ups.
Reflection: I totally agree with you about college being more expensive now our days, and I believe, college tuition will keep going up as time goes on. The reason I say so is because, the world we find ourselves in is very competitive and most industries, cooperation are looking for the best of the best in terms of academic performance and how high your level of education is. So the people in charge of college text books pricing and college tuition, make their products expensive so it can serve as an investment if rightly managed.
I totally agree with you, college will always increase with its prices with each year passing by. Textbook price’s are one of the reasons many people struggle in college, most of the times the textbooks arent even needed but still forced to get one. They keep publising textbooks that are literally the same but newer version and making everyone buy that new version so we can get homework code. Thats one of the things that should be fixed as is one of the reasons college is so expensive.
Inquiry : here is an article that has a different view about faculty and there salary’s being the reason why college being so expensive. https://thescholarshipsystem.com/blog-for-students-families/the-real-reasons-why-college-tuition-is-so-high-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/ under a growing cost disease. This may change your mind or maybe create a stronger argument that it really is the faculty salary that raiser college cost.
Reflection: I noticed as well they college textbooks are one of the main concerns for students. I’ve come across people who apply for small scholarships every few weeks ($50, $100, etc.), anything they can get, just to help pay for their textbooks. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to make higher education so difficult for a lot of people to obtain.