Center for Michigan’s Report on Upward Mobility: Tuition, Loans and Counseling
Center for Michigan releases report on the state of Michigan’s secondary and higher education.
President and CEO of the Center for Michigan John Bebow talks to Stephen about his organization’s report, “Getting to Work,” and discusses college tuition rates, what the government is doing about them, and the issues affecting students today.
College Tuition: Even though undergrad tuition rose 86 percent according to the report, the public does not want to share that burden of paying for it. “They know it’s essential, but they’re not sure it’s worth it.” Bebow tells Stephen. This could be because “as costs have risen, household income has actually decreased by about a quarter.”
Loans Ballooning: Student loans have grown from $850 million in 2001, to $2 billion a year. Government has not responded, says Bebow, with the budget for public universities getting smaller. Several states and colleges have tackled this issue by freezing or examining spending, but Michigan has not yet responded in kind.
Student Counseling: One of the biggest issues, says Below, is helping students figuring themselves (and their future careers) out. Student counselors are outnumbered “700 to 1.” A program has been launched to put dedicated college counselors in high schools across Michigan, according to Bebow with 50 already in schools and 40 planned for the next year.
To read the full report, click here.
To find out more about the college counseling program, click here.
To hear more from this conversation, click above.
