Thursday, September 07, 2006

N.C. scores low when it comes to college affordability

North Carolina has long been considered a beacon of light in the nation when it comes to affordable higher education. That light appears to be dwindling.

"North Carolina is a solid B student when it comes to college preparation, participation and completion, but it is failing in its ability to provide affordable education," according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

That is according to the latest report card on the state of American college education being released today by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, a nonpartisan research group. The center issues such a report every two years. It examines states' secondary-school preparation and the cost of two- and four-year private and public schools.

Affordability was just one factor, but it's the one on which states did most poorly overall. Of the 50 states, 43 scored an F in keeping college costs down and providing financial aid based on need. Utah and California received C-minus, the best grades.

States that did best tended to balance tuition increases with financial aid based on need, Callan said, or have low-cost community-college alternatives. Despite a rise in both in North Carolina, the state does not offer "low-priced college opportunities," the report said. But Callan couldn't give a number to clarify what that amount might be.

Click on the link (above) for the rest of the article.

No comments: