A new
report lists two of Arizona’s state universities among the top 25 in the nation
for tuition hikes.
Arizona
State University checked in at 18 and the University of Arizona was closer to
the top of the list at number four. This comes after Republicans cut about $99
million from public university budgets and about $16 million from community
colleges across the state.
Students are speaking out on how these budget cuts and subsequent tuition increases are affecting them. A columnist for The State Press recently wrote:
“If state investment in universities
continues to drop, friends who are not as fortunate will fall off of the
tightrope and will not graduate. This will not be a result of their work ethic
or their intelligence; instead, it will be because they couldn’t afford
it…
“For those of you
who don’t struggle to pay for college, consider
the loss to our community when other students do drop out. Consider a business
student who wants to start a business that will bring more jobs to the Arizona
economy. Due to student debt or the inability to make it through college, that
business could be delayed years, or never started at all, meaning that it may be
harder for you to find a job.”
Arizona
continues to collect recognition for being at the bottom of the education
barrel. A recent U.S. Department of Education report announced that in 2013
Arizona tied with Alaska for the dubious distinction of having the lowest college completion rate in the country. Only 29
percent of students completed a four-year degree within six years. The report
stated the national average is 55 percent.
The report
also said Arizona students face the highest student loan default rate in the
nation. Arizona’s rate was 18 percent compared to the national average of 11 percent.
While this
information is disheartening, digging into the data a little more does provide
some positive information. The overall college completion rate includes students
from public, private and for-profit universities. The report lists each separately, and the good news is that Arizona’s public
universities have a 57 percent graduation rate – two points higher than the
national average. An Arizona Board of Regents spokesperson recently told a
reporter that the current completion rate is nearly 60 percent for 2014-2015.
Democrats
see the potential in the students attending our state universities and community
colleges. We believe that investing in our students is one of the best ways to
ensure our economy is strong and stable. We’re proposing substantial investments
in our universities and other educational institutions. To see a summary of the
Democrats’ full, five-step plan for moving Arizona forward, which includes
investing in Arizona students, click here.
#DemsLead
