UC Students Erupt Over Tuition Hikes

(CBS)  Protests broke out at many college campuses in California this week, following a steep hike in tuition at state schools. A severe budget crisis is the cause in California, but it's a growing problem at campuses across the country, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

University of California students barricaded themselves in buildings and hundreds took to the streets this week in anger over a plan to significantly increase tuition fees.

University officials had to be escorted by police off the UCLA campus after voting to raise costs more than $2,500 or 32 percent on families making more than $70 thousand. UC educations will now top $10 thousand annually, with room, board and books adding an additional $16,000.

Tiffany Loftin is already working a full time job to pay tuition at UC Santa Cruz. With the increase, she may have to drop out.

"I'm pissed off because I spent my first year of college, my second year of college and now my third year of college taking out loans and investing in the UC system and now they're kicking me out because I can't afford it," she said.

UC officials say the fee increase is unavoidable because the state cut $1.2 billion in funding. They've already turned away students and furloughed staff.

"We've seen our support from the state go down by 50 percent over the last 20 years and by 20 percent within one year," explained Mark Yudof, president of the University of California.

The financial fallout is not just being felt in California. States across the country with tight budgets are slashing education and students are paying the price. State aid to public colleges plummeted nearly $4 billion last year as enrollment grew.

The average tuition at four-year public colleges rose 6.5 percent to $7,000 this fall. At private colleges, average tuition is up 4.4 percent to $26,000, not including room and board, according to the College Board.

Most students end up paying far less because of financial aid.

"Most states, tuition at public universities - tuition alone - is still under $10,000 a year," said Jeff Selingo, editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education. "I think what you are going to see is that double in some cases to be more like private colleges."

Students fear public schools are no longer living up to their name.

"They want us to bail out the UC system and that's not our job. Our job is to come here and get educated," said Meghan Camacho, a UC Irvine student.

But now, they also have to learn new ways to pay for it.

[willihandjiv]

Sounds to me that in California the bums go to college for free handing the responsibility for the tuition to the middle class (those making more than $75K). I have an idea. Same tuition for everybody. Flat rate. Eliminate your communist-inspired redistributionist social-engineering policies, Cali!

[clancy49]

Across America the rich are quite successful to dumb down the young. Slaves are so much easier to control when they remain uneducated. The stupid are easier to manipulate with marketing and propaganda. The stupid drink the zombie kool aid. Creative minds do not exist in the world of stupid zombies. Education should be the most important issue in America. Education should be open and free to all. Why do you think India is sending over Doctors and Engineers by the droves? Anyone can get an education in India and those that want it, get it. It should be the same here. I would have had my PhD by now if I could have afforded college. Instead I have to work two low paying jobs for a poverty income and I managed to just fall short of a BS before I couldn't get any more help. You go College Kids. Make this an issue.

[willihandjiv]

Yes - everything should be free. By "the rich" you're really referring to the shrinking middle class who put most of the US' tax load squarely on their shoulders. Why not do something truly revolutionary: Earn your way. Some day your handouts will run out.

[wskowalski]

Get those overpaid and underworked college faculty to start teaching more courses, and freeze their rich salaries and benefits, which they are paid for an absurdly short work schedule, and you could probably solve this thing with a modest tuition increase. I'm sure many of the business school, and perhaps science, faculty have held real world jobs in the private sector, but in the liberal arts - are you kidding me? Push those clowns out into the real world and see how long they'd last and what they'd be making. Their's your answer, but the students won't touch the faculty - no, it will all be more of looking for old reliable American taxpayer to fund it all.

[SS_433]

You have no clue. Berkeley has laid off over 100 employees. Tuition has gone up 300% in recent years. The kids can't keep up.

Meanwhile, the rich are paying less taxes to state government.

[SS_433]

Sorry, the last sentence should have read:

Meanwhile, the rich are paying LESS taxes to state government.

[excalifornian]

Californian students are so naive. They need to stop dreaming and check out what other state universities students are paying. The universities in the rest of country have been paying much higher tuition but the UC system has not raise their tuition rates for a long time. Please do not be fooled by the 32% shocker because after the hike it is still below many other state universities. When the gov needed help in revising prop 13 where were the parents of the students? Why didn't you get your parents to come out in force to vote? Nothing is free. Other states are paying way ahead in paying property taxes but Californians have not for many many years. Your state is falling behind in paying taxes...so wake up Californians....stop being a "Californian dreaming".

[sohighschool]

Spot on. Is it true that, in state students in California will pay under 400 a credit at what are some of the finest universities in the world, and that's with the tuition hike? If it is, that is an excellent value and much less expensive than the majority of other state universities. The state can not continue to spend money it doesn't have. Many students will have to start to borrow, or increase the amount they are borrowing to pay for their education and thankfully interest rates have never been lower. Anything worthwhile, like the PRIVILEGDE of a college education is worth a littleor a LOT of hardship or inconvenience. Everyone is hurting in this recession and some would just be grateful food or shelter, let alone an education.

[sjc_1]

Many people in California are paying the same property tax that they paid 30 years ago, while the value of their house has risen a lot. Those same people paid less than 10% of their children's education, while others paid the rest. Renters pay for the home mortgage interest deductions. Some one has to pay for education and it is many of the people that have no children in school. It is a citizen's duty to help with education, but those taking advantage of Prop 13 have been greedy and selfish.

[kaylag04]

"They want us to bail out the UC system and that's not our job. Our job is to come here and get educated," said Meghan Camacho, a UC Irvine student.

A "job" is what you get to save money to pay for college; getting educated on the taxpayers dime is not a "job".

[sjc_1]

If the Governator had revised Prop 13 back in 2003 like he was told to, this would not be happening. Tuitions have doubled since then and the state is in deficit, but Arnold can use the one liner of "no tax hikes" and ride his legacy right into the ground.