2008 Woodie Awards
College tuition cheaper in California than in any other state
Maryann Sparelic
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: News
The price of education at a community college in California is lower than any other state. California state residents attending community college pay an enrollment fee instead of tuition; the fees are $20 per semester unit or $13 per quarter unit.
Out of state and international students pay tuition on top of enrollment fees, tuition for out of state students at De Anza College is $115 per unit and for foreign citizens it is $123.
California's is the largest higher education system in the nation: serving 72 districts, 110 colleges and over two million students annually.
The state has made the effort to keep costs as low as possible for students, said Cindy Castillo Director of Financial Aid at De Anza.
The average price for a year of education at public two-year colleges outside of California is $2,761, according to the College Board, compared to $634 for California community colleges.
The Community College of Vermont is the costliest in the nation, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, where state residents pay $191 per credit hour and out of state students pay $382 per credit hour.
Written in 1960, the Master Plan for Higher Education in California designed specific regulations for all California institutions of higher education in order to promote student success.
The plan initiated enrollment fees instead of tuition to keep costs down and encourage commitment to higher education. The rules are especially stringent for junior colleges, which must maintain quality standards because they have to accept everyone.
Junior colleges offer education through grade fourteen, two years after high school graduation. The standard collegiate courses offered are transferable to higher institutions, including vocational and technical offerings and liberal arts courses.
Completion of the two-year programs confers either an associate of arts or associate of sciences degree.
Comparing income of each states' residents California averaged $59,948 to Vermont's $49,907.
The cost of living in California is much higher, which may account for some of the difference in cost; state revenues contribute to California's community colleges, providing public subsidies to offset the cost of providing education to all residents.
While California community colleges are outwardly more affordable, enrollment fees are only a fraction of the cost of attendance.
The cost of California living adds up: enrollment fees at De Anza College for one full time year costs $480; books and supplies for one year of school total $1,566; food and miscellaneous costs for one year add up to $3,546; yearly housing costs in Cupertino, CA average $10,692.
When living expenses and books are added on top of enrollment fees, community college in California is as expensive as other states.
Out of state and international students pay tuition on top of enrollment fees, tuition for out of state students at De Anza College is $115 per unit and for foreign citizens it is $123.
California's is the largest higher education system in the nation: serving 72 districts, 110 colleges and over two million students annually.
The state has made the effort to keep costs as low as possible for students, said Cindy Castillo Director of Financial Aid at De Anza.
The average price for a year of education at public two-year colleges outside of California is $2,761, according to the College Board, compared to $634 for California community colleges.
The Community College of Vermont is the costliest in the nation, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, where state residents pay $191 per credit hour and out of state students pay $382 per credit hour.
Written in 1960, the Master Plan for Higher Education in California designed specific regulations for all California institutions of higher education in order to promote student success.
The plan initiated enrollment fees instead of tuition to keep costs down and encourage commitment to higher education. The rules are especially stringent for junior colleges, which must maintain quality standards because they have to accept everyone.
Junior colleges offer education through grade fourteen, two years after high school graduation. The standard collegiate courses offered are transferable to higher institutions, including vocational and technical offerings and liberal arts courses.
Completion of the two-year programs confers either an associate of arts or associate of sciences degree.
Comparing income of each states' residents California averaged $59,948 to Vermont's $49,907.
The cost of living in California is much higher, which may account for some of the difference in cost; state revenues contribute to California's community colleges, providing public subsidies to offset the cost of providing education to all residents.
While California community colleges are outwardly more affordable, enrollment fees are only a fraction of the cost of attendance.
The cost of California living adds up: enrollment fees at De Anza College for one full time year costs $480; books and supplies for one year of school total $1,566; food and miscellaneous costs for one year add up to $3,546; yearly housing costs in Cupertino, CA average $10,692.
When living expenses and books are added on top of enrollment fees, community college in California is as expensive as other states.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
angela
posted 12/12/08 @ 10:38 AM PST
y is it that teh prices in california are so low? they should be more expensive!
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