wfn.org | Commentary: Help is available to pay college tuition

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 12, 1999 News media contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-71BP{194}

NOTE TO READERS:  Stephen G. Jennings is president of United
Methodist-related Oklahoma City University. (Editors, a photograph is
available with this story.)

A UMNS Commentary
By Stephen G. Jennings

"How are we going to pay for college?"
	
For many families, there is genuine concern about the price of higher
education today, as well as how much costs may increase in the years ahead.
Will the average family be able to afford a college education - especially a
private college education - in the future? How are administrators in the
United Methodist colleges and universities addressing this issue?
	
Last year, a study by the American Council on Education put the college
cost, price and affordability issue in the spotlight. Its analysis of public
attitudes toward college, "Too Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing: What
the Public Thinks and Knows About Paying for College," presented the classic
"good news, bad news" situation. The good news is the public believes that a
college education is vitally important and, despite the price tag, feels
that it represents a good value for the money. The bad news is that the
public worries a
great deal about the price of attending college, believes that it is too
expensive and thinks the price could be reduced with no effect on academic
quality. 
	
The research showed that the public overestimates the tuition and total
annual charges of private universities. The public also does not know how
much financial aid is available to help pay college bills, where it comes
from or how to get it. Finally, the study showed the public feels that
college administrators are indifferent to their concerns about cost, price
and affordability.
	
In fact, a private college education is affordable and a good value. Some
facts that may surprise you:
	
*	At the nation's private colleges and universities, seven of 10
undergraduates receive financial aid, nearly $9,000 on average, reducing
their total expenses by almost half.
	
*	Three out of four full-time undergraduate students pay less than
$10,000 for everything - tuition, room, board, books and living expenses. A
third of them pay less than $5,000, and part-time students often pay even
less.
	
*	A variety of resources are available to help families with children
of all ages plan for and pay for higher education, including the new Hope
and Lifetime Learning tax credits. Grants, scholarships and low-interest
loans in excess of $60 billion are available every year to help people
afford a college education.
	
*	College officials do care about the financial burden that higher
education can impose on families and will work to help families with the
tuition. They have taken cost-cutting and budget-tightening initiatives to
stabilize tuition increases.
	
Oklahoma City University is one of 102 United Methodist colleges and
universities in the United States. We offer a private educational experience
students can afford. Our cost for tuition, room, board and fees is 37
percent less than the national average for private higher education and 17
percent less than the Southwest average for private institutions.
Seventy-five percent of our students receive financial assistance, which is
a generous blend of merit-based scholarships,
performance scholarship, campus employment and aid from federal, state and
university sources.	
	
The majority of people know how valuable a college education can be, but
they might not know the wealth of possibilities available to help them
afford it. Anyone who wants to go to college can. There is no "one size fits
all" solution to college economic issues, but there are ways to make it
affordable. The majority of students today receive some form of financial
assistance to help pay for college. 
	
As president of an independent Oklahoma university related to the United
Methodist Church, I am dedicated to this cause. University administrators
must inform the public that a private college education is affordable and
will continue to be accessible in the future. We must continue to help
students and parents locate and use the millions of financial aid dollars
that go to waste. 

We must also increase our universities' endowments to keep costs reasonable
and continue to examine the priorities and procedures of running our
institutions in a business-like manner in order to provide the best
education at the most affordable cost.
	
And what can parents do? Study and analyze which institution will best serve
the needs of your student and offer the most value-added "bonus" for your
child. In other words, investigate and probe. Take time to visit the campus
and ask questions. Most institutions will encourage students and parents to
tour campus and to look closely at the focus of the institution. 

Whether they need a large research university or a small independent
university, it's worth the time to get the "right fit" for your son or
daughter.
# # #

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