Having Trouble saving for your child's college tuition?

Communism at its best. Your child's tuition may be paying for someone else to go to college.

The below editorial appeared in the Belleville News Democrat


Tuition, aid a bad match

We know that college costs keep going up. Still, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville's plans to raise tuition 41 percent over the next three years is extreme -- especially given the way the university plans to use a huge chunk of the money.

Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift said the increase will bring in about $3 million to $3.5 million in the first three years. Of that, $1.6 million will be used for scholarships and other types of student financial assistance.

So SIUE is going to raise tuition so it can turn around and give away more money for financial assistance? A lot of colleges and universities are doing it. But what's wrong with that picture?

No doubt more students will need financial help once tuition goes up so dramatically. In 2008, incoming students will pay about $6,150 a year in tuition compared with the $4,350 a year incoming students paid this year.

It seems more logical to keep tuition increases to a minimum, so that fewer students would need assistance in the first place.