Dive Summary:
- For the fifth year in a row, Louisiana's fiscal crisis is hitting higher education; this year colleges and universities are expected to receive about $96.5 million less than the previous year.
- Declining state funding is being offset at least in part by tuition increases: the average statewide increase for in-state students will be $546.
- One observer says those tuition hikes come at a price: Some students will decide they cannot afford more schooling or will be saddled with heavy education debt.
From the article:
... “As a nation, we’ve seen an alarming trend where student loan debt has now exceeded credit card debt, and with every tuition increase, that trend continues to gain momentum,” Magner said. “It is completely understandable in this time why institutions are looking to tuition increases to offset cuts, but it does come at a price to students.” ...