EXPECTATIONS: The unnecessary high prices of university tuition has affected college decision making for prospective students.
By Cassandra Navarro, Staff Writer
College is a subject that frequently receives controversial opinions. Today’s modern high school students, seniors specifically, are commonly encouraged to continue their education at a university after graduation. Most believe that attending a college after graduating high school is (and ultimately should be) the goal of every student, without regards to what the college application process actually consists of. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadlines, scholarships and most importantly, the overall tuition of a college overwhelms students, even if they already have one particular university in mind.
Four-year universities have always been the most popular among the average student body with their large campuses and aspiring students, but the tuition is overlooked far too often. Committing to a university such as the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) or Stanford University is one thing, but figuring out how to pay for their room and board alone is another. Breaking the prices down, UCLA’s average room and board prices round to about $15,000, over $3,000 more than their actual tuition, which is priced close to $12,000. In addition, books and supplies alone are priced at roughly $1,635. The average price that a UCLA student would pay for admission is at least $34,000 dollars, and over $60,000 for out-of-state residents. However, these prices aren’t always set in stone. The FAFSA and scholarships have proven beneficial to students by lowering prices to a great extent. However, the problem with this is that not all students qualify for the same financial aid as others. One student might receive over $20,000 alone in scholarships, while another may receive a mere $2,000. It is evident that students are not on a fair playing field when applying to college.
Of course, some may argue that grades and extracurricular activities play a large role in the college application process. Star athletes and extravagant scholars are more likely to receive larger scholarships for their achievements, while the average student with decent grades and participation in one club throughout their high school years, are not even considered for any sort of financial aid. This is where the average student receives the short end of the stick. Sure, they may still be accepted, but how are they supposed to handle the task of paying over $30,000? Student loans might help, as long as that student is prepared to be in debt for the next ten years of their life. It is at that point that many may ask themselves: is this college even worth it? “In my opinion, I think that the price of college tuition is unreasonable,” Poly student Yesenia Pedraza (12) said. “However, I’d probably still pay to attend a four-year university [because of my own interests]. But if [community college] was my last resort, I’d consider it,” Pedraza stated.
Riverside City College (RCC) in Riverside, California, has commonly been a second choice for many of those interested in achieving an affordable education and even for those who receive a slightly higher grade point average than others, especially because of their fairly new honors program. Created in 2005, the program has two head Honors Coordinators: Dr. Thatcher Carter and Dr. Tucker Amidon. The program is offered to any of those with a 3.0 grade point average or higher, and helps those interested in transferring to a four-year college tremendously. “I might actually consider going to RCC next year,” Kenya Ortiz (12) revealed. “Freshmen have to take the same classes their first two years no matter where they go, so I might as well save a little and take care of [the classes] at a community college and then go to a university after I’m finished there,” Ortiz said. Over 80% of their transfers are accepted into universities after attending the program, leaving many to wonder if a year or two at a community college would be financially beneficial toward one’s education; because of their success rate, attending community college is a feasible option.