How much should I pay?
Hindsight is priceless. I’m at the age where I can reflect on choices made decades ago, and present evidence that my decisions are still “right” in the present context. Finally, a good reason for age!
This afternoon the mighty Rex took on the heady topic of student tuition levels, inviting comment from across the nation. The marches earlier in the week by students (what, you had no classes scheduled?) with the cry for lessened debt load have merit, but only to the point that they invite reflection on what a tuition price actually means.
In an ideal world, everything we wanted would be free, and we’d all act responsibly and consume to our individual need. No further. The first evidence of a lack of ideal is to march on a class day. Across the country, students (and to a lesser extent, the paying parents) are upset that debt load for post-secondary education has increased. Compared to? Of course the price is higher now.
So are wages, the price for a sixpack of Schooner, two donairs. If we spend the next week drawing up a shopping list, we’ll probably come to the conclusion that just about everything cost more than it used to. Except diskettes, but who needs them anyways? My friend the economist has a set of terms to describe this whole state of affairs. I have a simple question: how much should I pay?
I did some calculator exploration recently, comparing the cost of MY education with other price points, then and now. It’s funny; based on the minimum wage (what students often find they are worth in the economy) a university course has remained constant in value, for going on four decades. Accumulated student debt vs first year salary for my profession (teacher in public system). Constant. Cost of a cold brew vs. that same minimum wage. Constant.
Now, let’s jump to the conclusion. Value of my university education. Priceless. So, how much should I pay? I think you know the answer. There aren’t many deals out there that offer better return for your inconstant dollar.
