Higher Tuition For an Engineering Degree

i_like_spam writes "The NYTimes is running a story about a new trend in tuition charges at public universities throughout the country. Differential pricing schemes are being implemented, whereby majors in engineering and business pay higher tuition rates than majors in arts and humanities. Last year, for instance, engineering majors at the University of Nebraska starting paying an extra $40 per credit hour. One argument in support of differential pricing is that professors in engineering and business are more expensive than in other fields. Officials at schools that are implementing differential pricing are aware of some of the downsides. A dean at Iowa State said he 'thought society was no longer looking at higher education as a common good but rather as a way for individuals to increase their earning power.' And a University of Kansas provost said, 'Where we have gone astray culturally is that we have focused almost exclusively on starting salary as an indicator of... the value of the particular major.'"

Exactly what America needs!

[SEE]

Fewer engineers and more people with degrees in Art History!

Re:Exactly what America needs!

[Anne Thwacks]

America already has those - why would anyone need another engineer?

The real purpose of social science programs

[boguslinks]

Mr. Kushner said he thought society was no longer looking at higher education as a common good but rather as a way for individuals to increase their earning power.

Kushner and his ilk are probably more upset that, the more that students choose engineering and business, the less they will choose humanities and social science majors that are nothing more than indoctrinations in leftist ideology and political correctness.

Brought peace?

[just_a_monkey]

Yes, yes, but apart from electricity, running water, internet connections, telephones, automobiles, computers and stable buildings, what have the engineers ever done for us?!

Re:Catching up to the rest of the world...

[bladesjester]

I, for one, am not going to trust the same invisible hand that gave us pets.com to provide them.

Adam Smith's Invisible Hand is way too fond of giving people the finger...

Re:What about other revenue sources?

[Nephilium]

But what about the athletes, and the giant alumni donations? Wouldn't that make underwater basket weaving, history of golf, competitive bowling, and the analysis of Dr. Seuss cheaper classes?

It's times like this I remember why I decided to skip college.

Nephilium

Re:Why not?

[Rix]

Engineers can and do write books and perform music. Granted, it's unusual for them to muck it up in the low brow world of television, so I suppose you have me there.

Yes, actually. The cat does "got my tongue."

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

I'm surprized no one's posted the new tuition rates.

Rates Per Credit Hour, Fall 2007, Based On Full Credit Load (12-18 Credit Hours)

• $280 School of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy

• $240 General PhD in Engineering or Sciences

• $220 Engineering

• $220 Business

• $220 Computer Science

• $200 General Math and Hard Sciences

• $160 Professional Social Sciences (psychology, etc.)

• $130 School of Social Work

• $120 School of Forestry/Natural Resources

• $100 Spanish

• $90 Communications

• $1200 Pole Dancing By The Airport