Spring Break
Students, administrators voice opinions about recent tuition hike
Jason Gomes
Issue date: 8/20/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 4 next >
Interim Provost Ali Houshmand sent a letter to students in July, announcing a 4.5 percent tuition increase. ("Tuition set to increase 4.5 percent in fall term," The Triangle, July 23, Page One).
Students have mixed views, but some agree with Drexel's stance on increasing tuition.
"The increase in tuition rate is a necessary step by Drexel in order to maintain the overall running of the institution, to make great strides and, in the end, to make the Drexel degree all the more valuable for the student," said Mark LeVan, a pre-junior majoring in electrical engineering. "However, I feel that Drexel may spend this money irresponsibly and may not, in the end, be able to support a particular academic program or fund a particular project."
Lou Bocchicchio, a pre-junior majoring in computer engineering, expressed a different view on the tuition increase.
"I don't see why Drexel should be taking additional money out of my pocket. Why raise the tuition when there are more students entering this University? Shouldn't the increase deposit of money negate the monetary value of increased tuition?"
Adam Salamon, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, agreed with the University's reasons for raising the tuition but feels that the money could be used elsewhere.
"Drexel should concentrate their money heavily on the negative feedback that the public, such as the Princeton Review, gives Drexel," Salamon said. "Exert a lot of resources, both money and time, to get Drexel off the list of being one of the worst campuses in the nation, and get them off the list of bureaucratic red tape."
Students also understand that Drexel, a private institution, will charge a higher rate than public institutions like Temple University or West Chester University, which charge $8,622 and $6,897 respectively, for their in-state residents. Private institutions such as Villanova University ($27,350) and University of Pennsylvania ($29,318) will charge tuition comparable to Drexel University's $27,100 within the four-year program, and $21,700 for the five-year program, totaling about $108,000.
Students have mixed views, but some agree with Drexel's stance on increasing tuition.
"The increase in tuition rate is a necessary step by Drexel in order to maintain the overall running of the institution, to make great strides and, in the end, to make the Drexel degree all the more valuable for the student," said Mark LeVan, a pre-junior majoring in electrical engineering. "However, I feel that Drexel may spend this money irresponsibly and may not, in the end, be able to support a particular academic program or fund a particular project."
Lou Bocchicchio, a pre-junior majoring in computer engineering, expressed a different view on the tuition increase.
"I don't see why Drexel should be taking additional money out of my pocket. Why raise the tuition when there are more students entering this University? Shouldn't the increase deposit of money negate the monetary value of increased tuition?"
Adam Salamon, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, agreed with the University's reasons for raising the tuition but feels that the money could be used elsewhere.
"Drexel should concentrate their money heavily on the negative feedback that the public, such as the Princeton Review, gives Drexel," Salamon said. "Exert a lot of resources, both money and time, to get Drexel off the list of being one of the worst campuses in the nation, and get them off the list of bureaucratic red tape."
Students also understand that Drexel, a private institution, will charge a higher rate than public institutions like Temple University or West Chester University, which charge $8,622 and $6,897 respectively, for their in-state residents. Private institutions such as Villanova University ($27,350) and University of Pennsylvania ($29,318) will charge tuition comparable to Drexel University's $27,100 within the four-year program, and $21,700 for the five-year program, totaling about $108,000.
Be the first to comment on this story