Our gold and blue home was once called, the Agricultural College of West Virginia. Later on December 4, 1868 the name was changed to West Virginia University; this new name would embody the broader range of education. Currently, West Virginia University continues to strive for excellence by providing students with the tools of success.
College students out on their own and away from home for the first time can find themselves in financial trouble sooner than expected. For many students, attending college itself can be one of two things- the best experience of their life or a life sentence of debt. College can quickly become a crash course in just that, allowing students to make big financial mistakes and expenses that can hunt them for years to come.
As a proud mountaineer, I consider WVU to be my home and my fellow undergrads as part of one big family. For that reason precisely, I was entreat to do my own research and ultimately get the scoop directly from them. What a better way than to conduct a survey? I said to myself. And just that I did, Why not question random undergrads on their financial situation? This brilliant idea was quite successful when I surveyed a sample of 100 West Virginia University undergraduates. The findings quickly lead me to discover similarities between the samples surveyed. The three most common issues hurting students financially were for starters; tuition, housing, and cost of books. Surprised at all? -Didn't think so. These three factors are the biggest costs and expenses for all college students across the United States. There must be a solution. We all wish to graduate with a degree, but at what cost?
West Virginia University has it all. Whether your goal is to be an aerospace engineer, reporter, athletic trainer, forensic investigator, teacher, or CEO, West Virginia University has over 191 degree choices available. There is also always a learning opportunity waiting for you beyond the classroom walls. Therefore, it is no surprise that West Virginia University attracts students from all parts of the country and outside the country as well. Students come from every West Virginia county, 50 states and Washington, DC, and other 100 countries because WVU encourages and supports diversity.
Everyone shares one goal. For college students, being able to immediately generate an income after graduation is an appealing thought. Nevertheless, they may also be repelled by the rising cost of tuition in the past years, and while it is true that a higher education may be one of the largest expenses you will ever face, the importance of a college education has become quite evident in terms of earning potential within today's economy. In despite of the large cost of tuition and other expenses, students should not be discouraged from obtaining a college education. As the cost of tuition rises, so does the number of available financial aid options.
Tuition is the biggest issue for college students. As a result of increases in the price of college, growth of enrollments in higher education over time, and changes in the structure of aid programs, increases in these totals do not necessarily make college more affordable for individual students. From my survey 38% of undergraduate students rely on more than one financial plan to pay for college. Students and their families pay only a fraction of the cost of higher education; funding for the remainder comes from a variety of sources. At public colleges and universities, tuition levels are significantly lower than institutional costs because state and "local governments provide about $70 billion per year in funding for college and university instruction" (College Review).
At West Virginia University the prices of tuition are as follow, $5,674 in-state; $17,844 out-of-state. Surprisingly, my survey showed that most students are an in effect out-of-state student which means that they will carry the heavier debt after graduating college. Students have a selection of financial plans to select from such as loans, grants, financial aid, military funding and of course, scholarships. The survey disclosed that about half of the current undergraduate students at West Virginia University rely on more than one financial plan to help them cover all related college expenses. According to the New York Times, "these federal grants compose only 31 percent of the total grant aid on which postsecondary students rely. The largest portion of grant aid comes from colleges and universities themselves, which provide 41 percent of the total." The remainder is then funded by states and private sources students applied for. Only problem with most loans and financial assistance is that soon after graduating the interest accrues upon receipt.
In the last decade, some states have cut spending for higher education and many others have not allocated enough money to keep pace with the growing student body. That trend has accelerated as state budgets have shrunk because of the recent financial crisis. The Department of Education says, "If the trends continue through 2016, the average cost of a public college will have more than doubled in just 15 years." This is quite alarming. All the while, the cost of tuition and fees has continued to increase faster than the rate of inflation itself. In other words, the growing student debt is a result of today's economy only.
Second biggest problem for WVU students is the price of housing. After conducting a survey on one hundred current undergraduate students, the results showed that over 50% prefer to live off-campus. In fact, this is a much wiser option to students. There is a difference of relatively $1,316 or more money saved by living off-campus. Morgantown housing rent ranges from $400 - $650 monthly for college students; on the other hand students living on campus are charged $2,916 per semester, according to the WVU housing site. The cost to live in dorms is of about $700 per month, still greater than a regular apartment monthly rent.
Dorms are basically like giant hotels on campus where students live; most dorms have two students each in rooms which contain two beds, two desks, and two dressers. In most situations roommates are randomly assigned, although sometimes students can pick who they want to live with. Bathrooms are usually communal and shared by floor, with a large area containing toilets, sinks, and showers at the end of the hall. This is the typical arrangement in a college dorm, and it is the typical experience that most students have when they go away to attend university after high school. This particular living arrangement best suits freshman.
Still the decision to live in an apartment or house is highly preferred. The idea is that you live in more comfortable surroundings, you have a better chance to pick the roommates that you want, and you do not need to worry about sharing a bathroom with so many people. College students want the freedom to do as they please and living under WVU conditions and rules limits them to do so.
Thirdly, students have other expenses that influence the cost of college, for instance the price of books is a popular one. Astonishingly, all one hundred of the undergraduate students who answered the survey firmly believe that the cost of books is not justifiable. Why do books cost so much? In high school, the books were absolutely free of charge! This is not the case in college. West Virginia University students are paying about $250- $500 a semester for books alone. College books are not cheap. The cost of books for a year of college can easily top $1,000.
This is true whether you attend a pricey private university or an inexpensive community college. Granting that a semester in college does involve longer reading assignments and many professors do assign readings from more than one book, the cost for books still not reasonable to students. In reality, the true reason why these prices are so high is simply because many college textbooks are highly specialized and the material is unavailable in any other book. The low volume of published books and the lack of market competition drive publishers to jack up prices for students. Therefore, book publishers are only making profit when college professors adopt their books.
Long gone are the days where a high school diploma, GED or no degree was enough to earn a living. The college degree has become the high school diploma. Yes, the college is expensive and it is getting pricier but ultimately, the reality is that college does equal jobs. Statistics show that you will earn more if you have a college education. "College graduates make 80 percent more than people who have only a high-school diploma", says the Department of Education; the wage premium for elite colleges can be even a lot higher. So, is a college education worth the cost? The reasoning does not begin and end with the job aspect. A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints.
It is important to remember the significant amount of opportunity available for college graduates. The global economy is increasingly more competitive. In order to obtain the best chance for a well-paying job after graduation, first understand the importance of college education. Attending college provides students with the knowledge and experience they are unable to receive from a secondary education system. Finding a way to fund a higher education now can pay off in a huge way in the years to come. Ultimately, the final decision is in your hands only. Is the debt burden worth it? Perhaps, for undergraduates now the situation can be a difficult one but college is in reality a good investment.
Moreover, the pride on being a true mountaineer is indescribable; all can agree that it is an instinct feeling of belonging and having a place in the shared comfort, no matter the failures and successes of the state and its people- Morgantown is our second home.
"Almost heaven, West Virginia - Life is old there, older than the trees younger than the mountains growing like a breeze. Country roads, take me home to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain momma take me home, country roads." John Denver captures the true meaning of a mountaineer.
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