UC regents announcement spurs questions for out-of-state students

  California dreamin'?                                                      Morguefiles

If you are anything like most students I talk to in this area, the idea of the sunny skies and warm beaches of California can be very alluring. However, for many years, the idea of attending a selective public university in California has been little more than a dream for most students. So the recent announcements by California State University officials, and today’s announcement by the University of California regents, has left many people wondering if the door to public higher education in California has been opened a little wider to out-of-state students – that is if you happen to have the money to pay out-of-state tuition.

In case you’ve missed it, let me summarize for you – the public universities in California are in a world of hurt because of budget cuts and shortfalls. How bad are they hurting? On November 10th, officials from the California State University system announced that because of the $564 million budget deficit they are facing, they are considering slashing enrollment by 40,000 students. Today, November 19th, the UC regents announced a 32% increase in tuition to meet a $535 million budget gap. These are drastic measures that have inspired both anger and despair among California students, as well as questions among students from other states.

The question for the latter is this, “If they need money that badly, will they be willing to admit more students who are willing to pay significantly higher tuition?” Keep in mind the current average cost of attendance for a California student living on campus at UCLA is estimated at about $26,600 while the cost for an out-of-state student is over $49,000. That means that they make over $23,000 more on every out-of-state student. It doesn’t take a math genius to figure out that admitting more out-of-state students is a quick way to close a budget gap. Consequently, people are speculating that this may result in higher admission rates to the UC system for well-qualified out-of-state students.

But before you write the check and buy some sunscreen, I’d like you to pause for a moment and consider how else that budget shortfall may have affected other aspects of those universities. I would like to recommend that you ask some key questions before you enroll such as:

- Will I be able to get all the classes I need in order to graduate in four years?
- How many general undergraduate classes, and classes in my major, are being taught by grad students or part-time professors?
- How have budget cuts affected undergraduate research in the field I will be studying?
- What student life programs have been cut? What other programs are being considered for cuts?

I’m definitely not saying not to apply to those schools - far from it. I’m just saying to be a smart shopper. The UC system has long been deservedly regarded as one of the finest in the U.S.  However, a price tag of possibly over $50,000, when a comparable education at UW could cost about $21,000 (less if you qualify for the Husky Promise), is no bargain.  That's why it’s important to take the time to find out if those tuition dollars will be getting you exactly what you're looking for 

Other articles you may find helpful:
Budget cuts necessitate asking new questions when considering a college
Talking to your student about paying for college
Which college should make your final cut?