The average length of time spent earning a bachelor’s degree has been steadily rising among American university students for the past 30 years, and the change is not entirely explained by a consideration of part-time and returning students, an economist says.
Extended graduation dates means higher costs to students, a fact that should provide most with an incentive to finish up early or on time. So what’s going on?
Among other reasons, Judith Scott-Clayton points to overcrowding brought on by circumstances in which university resources are not equal to student needs. Alongside nationwide budget cuts, a steady, predictable rise in enrollment has impaired colleges’ abilities to expand programs and make faculty hires when necessary. —ARK
The New York Times:
From an economic perspective, it’s not clear that there is an optimal time-to-degree, and for many students, it’s certainly better to complete college in five or six years than never complete at all. But stretching out a four-year degree means extra years of tuition costs, and additional years of labor market earnings and experience forgone. For students on financial aid, the five-year four-year degree also costs taxpayers.
... Overcrowding at public institutions, which may prevent students from taking the courses they need, is one explanation that has some support in the research. Unfortunately, having students hang around for five years ultimately does nothing to solve overcrowding; rather, it ensures that it will continue into the future. The freshmen who are shut out of a class in Year 1 come back to take the same class in Year 2, shutting out the next crop of freshmen.
... Similarly, it’s not clear that colleges have much incentive to get students out any faster. Although most institutional expenditures are related to providing instruction, many institutions charge a flat tuition rate for students taking 12 or more credits, and the revenues that these institutions receive from state and local governments are sometimes pegged to their number of “full-time” enrollees. A college that gets the same revenue, but incurs greater costs when a student takes 15 credits instead of 12, may not particularly mind if students want to follow a five-year plan.
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This next election is going to be definitely different. Won’t vote
Republican that is for certain against your best interest, if you are
of the majority population, and Democrats suck up to and
cooperate with the Republicans
to a great degree, too much for me, so possibly there will be a
liberal Independent or a liberal Green running that can be voted for that
everybody will vote for, and hopefully another
Republican doesn’t get in by hook and crook like
Bush did, as No Republican represents any of the
majority common population, at least the
Democrats are of the Middle Class that’s from the
Common Population and better than Republicans
if they realize where they came from. I find it
most sad that the Middle Class formed a New
Class and totally abdicated their representation of the
majority common population.
Either the lifetime student, or more likely, the financial institution that’s on the hook for paying his lifetime expenses, would go to Lil’ Timmy Geithner and negotiate a ‘Bail Out’, including a profit for the bank and pocket money for the ex-student.
And how would Lil’ Timmy pay for this? The same way we’re paying for the banks and brokers who ripped us off recently. Print more money, reduce the taxes of the rich, and cut the pay of the folks who make this country work.
It would seem to be the only way for a sly and smart student, but
the instant he/she gets sick or something unfortunate happens
where he/she is unable to maintain grade average, even if it is
through no fault of their own, their grade point average could easily
drop at some point during his/her life and then he/she could easily be
in massive debt, if that was the plan. Credit
rating would go in the toilet and what would
happen then?
Five years is nothing. Pretty soon college kids will stay in school for their lifetimes, until they’re ready to retire. Since they don’t have to repay their loans until they graduate, drop out, or carry less than half-time credits, that percentage of college kids who are smart will enjoy the parties, the spring breaks, the holidays and summers off, for their lifetimes. Without having to worry about that nit-picky pay-back process.
The only reason a Bachelor’s Degree would be raised from 4 years to
5 years is for a means to protect the New Academic Class’s academic
capital in their New Class, the Middle Class, that competes with the
Aristocracy, because it would make it more difficult for members of
the Common Population’s Class to rise high enough to become
competition for the New Academic Class, the Middle Class.
I am someone who, in mid-life, made the BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE. I left a reasonable wage earning position in broadcasting, borrowed tens of thousands and gave up many more tens of thousands in lost wages, to earn degrees in the social services field, to Masters level, from three universities.
Somewhere in the 8 years at school I became too old. Even worse, I found myself at age 50 WITH NO EXPERIENCE in my new field and in spite of my education, I was now TOO OLD to be employed in anything but a first level line job, for which I was “over educated” and would be a “threat” to other “beginners.”
If anyone wants my advice (and few do) - unless you have a BURNING DESIRE and DEMONSTRABLE TALENT FOR a certain discipline (science, medicine, law, engineering, etc.), I STRONGLY suggest, after a good high school grounding, attend TECHNICAL SCHOOL and apprentice in a trade - electrician, electronics, carpentry, etc. You’ll make good money anywhere on earth in a portable, always-in-demand “profession.”
Forget university. Far too expensive for what you get. If you can read a book you have all the skills you need to educate yourself in literature, the arts or humanities FOR FREE.
The Lotto Symbolizes the False Promises of Barracuda Capitalism
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By MarthaA, May 21, 2011 at 7:42 pm Link to this comment
TDoff, May 21 at 4:16 pm,
This next election is going to be definitely different. Won’t vote
Report thisRepublican that is for certain against your best interest, if you are
of the majority population, and Democrats suck up to and
cooperate with the Republicans
to a great degree, too much for me, so possibly there will be a
liberal Independent or a liberal Green running that can be voted for that
everybody will vote for, and hopefully another
Republican doesn’t get in by hook and crook like
Bush did, as No Republican represents any of the
majority common population, at least the
Democrats are of the Middle Class that’s from the
Common Population and better than Republicans
if they realize where they came from. I find it
most sad that the Middle Class formed a New
Class and totally abdicated their representation of the
majority common population.
By TDoff, May 21, 2011 at 4:16 pm Link to this comment
MarthaA, ‘.....and what would happen then?’
Either the lifetime student, or more likely, the financial institution that’s on the hook for paying his lifetime expenses, would go to Lil’ Timmy Geithner and negotiate a ‘Bail Out’, including a profit for the bank and pocket money for the ex-student.
And how would Lil’ Timmy pay for this? The same way we’re paying for the banks and brokers who ripped us off recently. Print more money, reduce the taxes of the rich, and cut the pay of the folks who make this country work.
Report thisBy MarthaA, May 21, 2011 at 12:17 pm Link to this comment
TDoff, May 21 at 11:45 am,
It would seem to be the only way for a sly and smart student, but
Report thisthe instant he/she gets sick or something unfortunate happens
where he/she is unable to maintain grade average, even if it is
through no fault of their own, their grade point average could easily
drop at some point during his/her life and then he/she could easily be
in massive debt, if that was the plan. Credit
rating would go in the toilet and what would
happen then?
By TDoff, May 21, 2011 at 11:45 am Link to this comment
Five years is nothing. Pretty soon college kids will stay in school for their lifetimes, until they’re ready to retire. Since they don’t have to repay their loans until they graduate, drop out, or carry less than half-time credits, that percentage of college kids who are smart will enjoy the parties, the spring breaks, the holidays and summers off, for their lifetimes. Without having to worry about that nit-picky pay-back process.
Report thisBy MarthaA, May 21, 2011 at 9:39 am Link to this comment
The only reason a Bachelor’s Degree would be raised from 4 years to
Report this5 years is for a means to protect the New Academic Class’s academic
capital in their New Class, the Middle Class, that competes with the
Aristocracy, because it would make it more difficult for members of
the Common Population’s Class to rise high enough to become
competition for the New Academic Class, the Middle Class.
By MarthaA, May 21, 2011 at 9:23 am Link to this comment
You should have studied on line and kept your job.
Report thisIt is imperative that young people get an
education, as much as they can afford.
By RAE, May 21, 2011 at 7:06 am Link to this comment
I am someone who, in mid-life, made the BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE. I left a reasonable wage earning position in broadcasting, borrowed tens of thousands and gave up many more tens of thousands in lost wages, to earn degrees in the social services field, to Masters level, from three universities.
Somewhere in the 8 years at school I became too old. Even worse, I found myself at age 50 WITH NO EXPERIENCE in my new field and in spite of my education, I was now TOO OLD to be employed in anything but a first level line job, for which I was “over educated” and would be a “threat” to other “beginners.”
If anyone wants my advice (and few do) - unless you have a BURNING DESIRE and DEMONSTRABLE TALENT FOR a certain discipline (science, medicine, law, engineering, etc.), I STRONGLY suggest, after a good high school grounding, attend TECHNICAL SCHOOL and apprentice in a trade - electrician, electronics, carpentry, etc. You’ll make good money anywhere on earth in a portable, always-in-demand “profession.”
Forget university. Far too expensive for what you get. If you can read a book you have all the skills you need to educate yourself in literature, the arts or humanities FOR FREE.
Report thisBy Morpheus, May 20, 2011 at 7:40 pm Link to this comment
University or corporations. They are no stranger to exploitation and greed.
“WAKE UP AMERICA!” - JOIN THE REVOLUTION
Report thisRead “Common Sense 3.1” at ( http://www.revolution2.osixs.org )
We don’t have to live like this anymore. “Spread the News”
FIGHT THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM
By MarthaA, May 20, 2011 at 6:58 pm Link to this comment
It will be oppression for young people to have to have five years of
Report thiscollege to get a bachelor degree.