Rising tuition rates are eating up more of low-income families’ budgets, according to a national study released Thursday.
But a Kansas University official said the new round of increases being proposed at KU shouldn’t add to the problem, because money is being set aside for increased financial aid.
“At least (low-income students) will not be impacted by the increased tuition,” said Chris Johnson, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. “They’ll stay about where they are right now.”
According to the study, by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, tuition has been rising faster than the average family income for the last 10 years in 41 states, including Kansas.
The average tuition for public universities in Kansas was $2,424 in 2001, up from $2,111 or 15 percent since 1992. The median family income increased from $52,889 to $58,400, or 10 percent, during that time.
Nationally, tuition at four-year universities consumed 25 percent of a low-income family’s income in 2000, up from 13 percent in 1980.
The study’s authors blamed excessive spending in prosperous economic times for tuition increases. Because state funding typically decreases during recessions, universities must increase tuition to keep the level of funding consistent.
KU and other Kansas regents universities are considering large tuition increases during the next five years. KU’s could more than double tuition by 2006.
University leaders will present their tuition proposals to the Kansas Board of Regents later this month. Twenty percent of KU’s proposed increase will be applied to financial aid for KU’s neediest students.
The study also notes that the buying power of federal Pell grants has declined for more than a decade. Pell grants now cover about 57 percent of average tuition at a public four-year university, compared with 98 percent in 1986.
“This report is providing nothing new to us,” Johnson said. “We’ve known particularly with the Pell grant that it’s lost purchasing power over time. The cost of education has increased at a much greater rate than Pell grants have.”
Rising tuition rates are eating up more of low-income families’ budgets, according to a national study released Thursday.
But a Kansas University official said the new round of increases being proposed at KU shouldn’t add to the problem, because money is being set aside for increased financial aid.
“At least (low-income students) will not be impacted by the increased tuition,” said Chris Johnson, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. “They’ll stay about where they are right now.”
According to the study, by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, tuition has been rising faster than the average family income for the last 10 years in 41 states, including Kansas.
The average tuition for public universities in Kansas was $2,424 in 2001, up from $2,111 or 15 percent since 1992. The median family income increased from $52,889 to $58,400, or 10 percent, during that time.
Nationally, tuition at four-year universities consumed 25 percent of a low-income family’s income in 2000, up from 13 percent in 1980.
The study’s authors blamed excessive spending in prosperous economic times for tuition increases. Because state funding typically decreases during recessions, universities must increase tuition to keep the level of funding consistent.
KU and other Kansas regents universities are considering large tuition increases during the next five years. KU’s could more than double tuition by 2006.
University leaders will present their tuition proposals to the Kansas Board of Regents later this month. Twenty percent of KU’s proposed increase will be applied to financial aid for KU’s neediest students.
The study also notes that the buying power of federal Pell grants has declined for more than a decade. Pell grants now cover about 57 percent of average tuition at a public four-year university, compared with 98 percent in 1986.
“This report is providing nothing new to us,” Johnson said. “We’ve known particularly with the Pell grant that it’s lost purchasing power over time. The cost of education has increased at a much greater rate than Pell grants have.”
Rising tuition rates are eating up more of low-income families’ budgets, according to a national study released Thursday.
But a Kansas University official said the new round of increases being proposed at KU shouldn’t add to the problem, because money is being set aside for increased financial aid.
“At least (low-income students) will not be impacted by the increased tuition,” said Chris Johnson, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. “They’ll stay about where they are right now.”
According to the study, by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, tuition has been rising faster than the average family income for the last 10 years in 41 states, including Kansas.
The average tuition for public universities in Kansas was $2,424 in 2001, up from $2,111 or 15 percent since 1992. The median family income increased from $52,889 to $58,400, or 10 percent, during that time.
Nationally, tuition at four-year universities consumed 25 percent of a low-income family’s income in 2000, up from 13 percent in 1980.
The study’s authors blamed excessive spending in prosperous economic times for tuition increases. Because state funding typically decreases during recessions, universities must increase tuition to keep the level of funding consistent.
KU and other Kansas regents universities are considering large tuition increases during the next five years. KU’s could more than double tuition by 2006.
University leaders will present their tuition proposals to the Kansas Board of Regents later this month. Twenty percent of KU’s proposed increase will be applied to financial aid for KU’s neediest students.
The study also notes that the buying power of federal Pell grants has declined for more than a decade. Pell grants now cover about 57 percent of average tuition at a public four-year university, compared with 98 percent in 1986.
“This report is providing nothing new to us,” Johnson said. “We’ve known particularly with the Pell grant that it’s lost purchasing power over time. The cost of education has increased at a much greater rate than Pell grants have.”
Rising tuition rates are eating up more of low-income families’ budgets, according to a national study released Thursday.
But a Kansas University official said the new round of increases being proposed at KU shouldn’t add to the problem, because money is being set aside for increased financial aid.
“At least (low-income students) will not be impacted by the increased tuition,” said Chris Johnson, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. “They’ll stay about where they are right now.”
According to the study, by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, tuition has been rising faster than the average family income for the last 10 years in 41 states, including Kansas.
The average tuition for public universities in Kansas was $2,424 in 2001, up from $2,111 or 15 percent since 1992. The median family income increased from $52,889 to $58,400, or 10 percent, during that time.
Nationally, tuition at four-year universities consumed 25 percent of a low-income family’s income in 2000, up from 13 percent in 1980.
The study’s authors blamed excessive spending in prosperous economic times for tuition increases. Because state funding typically decreases during recessions, universities must increase tuition to keep the level of funding consistent.
KU and other Kansas regents universities are considering large tuition increases during the next five years. KU’s could more than double tuition by 2006.
University leaders will present their tuition proposals to the Kansas Board of Regents later this month. Twenty percent of KU’s proposed increase will be applied to financial aid for KU’s neediest students.
The study also notes that the buying power of federal Pell grants has declined for more than a decade. Pell grants now cover about 57 percent of average tuition at a public four-year university, compared with 98 percent in 1986.
“This report is providing nothing new to us,” Johnson said. “We’ve known particularly with the Pell grant that it’s lost purchasing power over time. The cost of education has increased at a much greater rate than Pell grants have.”
