For today's college-age generation, earning an undergraduate degree is essential. In most high-paying industries, it has become roughly equivalent to a high school diploma 50 years ago. The main difference, of course, is the staggering cost of college tuition in the United States. For nearly half a century, the cost of attending college was soaring high, and shows no signs of stopping. Even when accounting for inflation, families across the country struggle to provide their children the opportunity for higher education. Northeastern University's tuition is exorbitant and its continued rise pushes a bachelor's degree further and further away from the mayoung perception.
Northeastern tuition is $59,100 for the 2022-23 academic year, an increase of almost 5% over the previous year. Even when adjusted for inflation, the increase is completely unreasonable, no matter how the institution tries to compensate for it through financial aid, scholarships and grants. Accounting for inflation does nothing but accentuate the problem. Annual inflation rates in the United States were on average 1.8% in the last decadewhile Northeastern's tuition has increased on average 4.5% per annum. The current school year is 4.6% more expensive from the last one.
While inflation rates this year were disastrous, compensation does not explain the continued increases. That's because Northeastern's tuition is not only high when we consider inflation, it's also high compared to other universities. In 2021 Northeastern's tuition was 82% more expensive than the average college in the country, with the average for private non-profit institutions of $29,844;. The university is among the top 100 most expensive schools in the United States with in-state tuition. #80. This does it 58% more expensive than other schools in Massachusetts, whose average is $34,405; and the 10th more expensive college in the state.
Northeastern and other institutions are able to do this because the system itself is deeply flawed. College tuition prices have been rising by gigantic margins for decades, leaving most families unable to afford them without significant aid. The minimum wage; However, it has not even come close to that growth rate. Fifty years ago, the average college tuition in the United States was $394 and The federal minimum wage was $1.60. As of the 2021 academic year, the average US college tuition is $10,560and the current minimum wage is $7.25. While tuition prices have increased by 2,107%, the minimum wage has only increased by 353%. In 1970, a college student could pay for one year of college working 246 hours a yearor 5 a week. By 1995, the number was 670. In the current academic year a student must work 1,457 hours a year, or 28 a week, to get them through college. Tuition prices like this have caused an epidemic of unaffordable higher education, forcing students into grueling programs or massive amounts of debt.
Northeastern promotes this trend and in doing so deeply harms its past, present and future students. Sky high tuition not only promotes but directly causes classism in the North East community. Absurd prices make hundreds thousands of high school students are unable to apply in higher education institutions regardless of academic merit, which is in direct contrast to the values we are told they hold. It makes wealth go a long way in deciding who applies, potentially causing Northeastern to miss out on outstanding, deserving students. Working while enrolled is always an option, but the 28 hours a week required to cover average tuition is exhausting when combined with a full course load at a university as rigorous as Northeastern. Working students find it more difficult to participate in clubs, extracurricular activities and have personal free time, putting them at a clear disadvantage compared to non-working students.
If students choose to take out student loans, they are doomed to be saddled with tuition for decades of their careers. The student debt crisis is currently at a cumulative level $1.7 trillion and steadily rising. Graduating with thousands of dollars in debt shouldn't be an asterisk for higher education, and the big impact it has on those who can't pay tuition out of pocket can't be overstated.
Northeastern is fully capable of lowering its prices, but it constantly chooses to put shoelaces on bullet holes. The university gives over $400 million in financial aid this academic year and continues to fulfill any study
fully demonstrated financial needs of the business, seemingly mitigating the very problem they perpetuate. High tuition is necessary to maintain Northeastern's campus, staff, and resources, but reducing the annual tuition increase by even a small amount would be very important. Lowering the financial barrier that university places on its accessibility will allow the experiential education it holds so dear to be available to all who deserve it, rather than those whose parents can afford it.
Ada Spiwak is a sophomore majoring in journalism and political science combined. You can reach her at [email protected].
