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American Degree Mills Exposed
Campus Report ^ | May 27, 2008 | Deborah Lambert

Posted on 05/27/2008 12:16:46 PM PDT by bs9021

American Degree Mills Exposed

by: Deborah Lambert, May 27, 2008

If someone in your family is heading off to college shortly, here’s something you might want to think about.

A new study by the non-profit Delta Cost Project found that although the cost of college tuition outpaces inflation by a country mile, it doesn’t necessarily translate into better results, according to USA Today.

For example, this year “the sticker price increases ranged from 4.2% at community colleges to 6.6% at public four-year institutions.”

Since a college degree is still the must-have “ticket” for every American student, steady tuition increases are always portrayed as necessary for maintaining—or increasing—educational quality.

However, the Delta figures are based on operating expenses at nearly 2,000 universities. Their study examined faculty salaries, “research, public outreach and financial aid.”

How do these areas benefit students? Not much.

And here's something else to ponder....

(Excerpt) Read more at campusreportonline.net ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: academia; achievement; college; costs; tuition

1 posted on 05/27/2008 12:16:47 PM PDT by bs9021
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To: bs9021

Become an actor and spout liberal talking points, Honorary degrees will be handed to you in exchange for graduation speeches.


2 posted on 05/27/2008 12:19:32 PM PDT by weegee (We cant keep our homes on 72 at all times & just expect that other countries are going to say OK -BO)
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To: bs9021

How is it that research, public outreach and financial aid does not benefit students? How does the author reach that conclusion?

The 54% completion number, if accurate, is very disturbing.


3 posted on 05/27/2008 12:20:57 PM PDT by RexBeach
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To: bs9021

This will never be a problem with me, as I got my degree from Harbard...


4 posted on 05/27/2008 12:25:13 PM PDT by Fury
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To: bs9021
the interesting bit is here: Although this country spends more “per student than any other industrialized nation, it ranks at the bottom in degree completion (54%),” according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

America has a very different view of education than the rest of the world. In Europe/Japan/China if you aren't doing college level work you are forced into vocational education or kicked out of school altogether at the age of 15/16. That's why the Japanese are jumping off bridges when they fail, their economic destiny has been written. In the US everybody gets multiple shots for a college degree in their life. So you have a general watering down of the product, but you also have a lot more “late bloomers.”

5 posted on 05/27/2008 12:25:20 PM PDT by Philly Nomad
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To: RexBeach

How about some of these students take a look at a technical college? For example, where I work, students pay about $7,000 for 2 years of technical training, can get a full-ride scholarship for an ACT of 19, and earn $45-$50K their FIRST year out in some fields (respiratory therapists, machinists). The American economy still offers some fantastic opportunities and you don’t need a PhD to get them.


6 posted on 05/27/2008 12:26:16 PM PDT by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

Good post, AT!


7 posted on 05/27/2008 12:30:35 PM PDT by RexBeach
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To: bs9021

bttt


8 posted on 05/27/2008 12:51:07 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Party ahead of principles; eventually you'll be selling out anything to anyone for the right price.)
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

because vocational schools are still the “last resort” school for the not going to college student or the can’t find a job college graduate.


9 posted on 05/27/2008 12:55:52 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: bs9021

The problem is the nevering cycle posed by the emphasis at accredited colleges and universities on needs based as opposed to merit based scholarships and grants. The FAFSA (Free Application For Student Aid) is intended to analyze your “needs” and generate a EFC (expected family contribution) which is what you should be expected to pay for your child’s education. In reality the EFC is of no consequence. The numbers that go into the calculation (basically what you have outside your 401k’s and IRAs) are what the colleges and universities want to see. That tells them what they can go after. As a result, you aren’t eligible for any scholarships if you have cash and savings that are uncovered. They want you to file the FAFSA early (in January) before you have the actual numbers to file your taxes (estimate). Then once you file your taxes, you can update the FAFSA (final). If you pay off a bunch of debt in between the filings, you get audited. At that point they want you to confirm the estimate numbers because that shows you have more to sate their appetite and less chance for any “needs” based support. The education system is severely broken and puts no emphasis on merit.


10 posted on 05/27/2008 12:59:18 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: bs9021

That’s it? The article doesn’t even mention degree mills. WTH??


11 posted on 05/27/2008 1:14:22 PM PDT by frankiep (Democrats base their ideology on the premise that you are too stupid to do anything for yourself.)
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To: bs9021

This is a Soros site.


12 posted on 05/27/2008 1:28:04 PM PDT by Eva (CHANGE- the post modern euphemism for Marxist revolution.)
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To: Fury

We both be Ivy Leege because I got mine from Yail.


13 posted on 05/27/2008 1:40:28 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: bs9021

If Obama wins, can’t we all just not work and collect government handouts?


14 posted on 05/27/2008 1:42:17 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: longtermmemmory

If you ask me, I would be more than happy if my kids go to a vocational school and became electricians,plumber,etc.


15 posted on 05/27/2008 1:45:25 PM PDT by cornfedcowboy
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