Share Your Experience

The Wall Street Journal has an interactive community where users can ask questions or share advice on a given topic. This week, the Journal Community is discussing the best way to pay for college. Feel free to share your tips here on SCHEV’s blog, or visit the WSJ website to see what their readers have to say.

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Private Practice

Good news for students attending private colleges or universities! Students at these institutions may pay a little less in tuition and fees this year, according to a survey by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The study found that while tuition and fees at private, nonprofit colleges and universities is increasing an average of 4.5% for the 2010-11 academic year, private colleges are increasing institutional student aid by an average of 6.8%. The 2010-11 increase in institutional student aid comes on top of a 9% increase last year.

The bottom line? Students and their families should not rule out private, nonprofit institutions just because of their price tag.

What do you think? Would you be more likely to attend a private college or university if a significant financial aid package could reduce your out-of-pocket expenses?

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Council Budget Recommendations

One of the duties of the Council of Higher Education is to make budget recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. Given the current economic situation, the Council chose to make its higher education budget recommendations in a different manner this year. 

 

At its October 21 meeting, the Council approved a resolution that focuses on short-term strategies to help students and institutions to respond to Virginia’s economic situation. Council recommendations included:

 

1. Setting financial aid as the highest priority for any additional funding. This includes aid for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Virginia residents attending the Commonwealth’s nonprofit, private institutions.

 

2. Giving the institutions the flexibility needed to increase tuition appropriately to help offset any necessary general fund budget reductions—provided that institutions be required to dedicate 5-30% of such tuition increases to need-based financial aid for in-state students.

 

For more information about the Council’s recommendations, visit our web site.

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