Higher Education Cost Drivers
April 13, 2009Via Texas Public Policy Foundation:
Tuition prices are increasing due to high university operating costs, not a lack of state funding. There must be measures in place that provide incentives for universities to keep these costs as low as possible. The only way to achieve this is to infuse free-market principles into a higher education system that severely lacks fiscal discipline.
Thanks @Liz_Young for the great work!
One way for students to cut degree costs is to engage in distance learning and credit by exam options. Distance learning is a well-known option for saving money but credit by exam may even be more effective.
This process enables a student to take recognized exam (like CLEP, DSST, or one administered by the university) to get credit instead of sitting through a course. CLEP and DSST cost $80 and are worth between 3 and 12 credits a piece.
Students have been able to cut their degree costs by 50% or more through credit by exam and studies have shown that students doing this learn just as much as those taking a course. So there’s no worry that students testing for credit are inhibiting their education in any way.