Cal State a deal, any way you cut it
San Bernardino Sun 3/7/07
And that even with the higher fees proposed, these schools are still a universal bargain.
Moreover, in today's economic reality, there is no longer any such thing as a "free" education. The excellent education offered at these campuses is still very much affordable, especially considering the end product. Armed with a college education, these graduates can, and do, compete with vigor in the global marketplace.
As Cal State San Bernardino President Al Karnig notes, even if Cal State's fees were increased in the fall by 10 percent, as the governor proposed in his January budget, we're talking a total increase of just $252. And the total cost of undergraduate tuition and fees would still be under $3,500 for the year.
The cost of an education at Cal State would still be the very lowest among its 15 comparator universities - and one of the lowest rates in the nation.
Even so, because of scholarships, Cal Grants, Pell Grants and State University fee grants, the majority of full-time resident undergraduate students at Cal State San Bernardino pay no state university fees. Fifty-seven percent do not have to pay. And another 10 percent pay only a portion of the fees.
The truth of the matter is, schools like Cal State San Bernardino derive their operating budget from only two sources: state appropriations and student fees. And unless and until the state picks up more of the share of the cost, student fees are necessary, and an increase may even be obligatory.
But considering the tough financial times, that may be placing an unfair burden in the governor's lap. We want our universities to have the financial resources to thrive and excel. Because when they succeed, so do our students.
But in this day and age, that may require asking students to realize they must buck up and share the load, knowing, with a good degree of certainty, that their college education will pay off once they're out in the real world.