California tuition prices reach new proportions for students
The recent rise in tuition at University State California’s and University California’s, in effect fall 2012, is affecting not only students but families as well. How much more money can they take from us?
Community Colleges tuition has raised 8 percent while Universities has raised 14 percent. According to UCLA’s website, UCLA was $29,771 a year living in the resident halls in the 2010 to 2011 school year.
The tuition is now $31,554 according to the UCLA website. Who knows how much higher the prices will go up for the 2012 to 2013 school year?
“The rises in tuition is stupid,” said Kimia Ahankoob, 19, political science. Ahankoob moved to Mission Viejo from L.A. recently and planned on attending UCLA. However, the tuition raise has made her question the plan.
“Why wouldn’t I just go to USC then? I’m not paying for a private school. It’s just UCLA, and I heard it is accepting everyone now a days,” Ahankoob said.
The cost of tuition makes getting an education for students who don’t have the option of financial aid just that much more difficult.
It’s understandable that financial aid is only available for the students that need it, but maybe the government doesn’t understand that the standard of living has also gone up, plus we are in a recession, and the tuition has just gone up.
So now that $80,000 a year just doesn’t cut it anymore, especially if there is more than one child in a household.
People might think that working and going to school full time at Saddleback can be stressful, but unfortunately the stress of college is only beginning.
Garrett Yazdani, 21, history, has been attending Saddleback College for two years now with a non-stop schedule. He intends to transfer to CSU Fullerton, but is afraid that the costly tuition could easily set him back.
When it comes to how he’s going to afford it he said, “It’s a combination between me and my parents. I work two jobs, one which is full time, and go to school full time,” Yazdani said. “It is ridiculous how after two jobs to help from my parents I am definitely still going to need to take out student loans then it’s at least $100 for textbooks.”
Protesting is a great way to get involved, not only with improving the community, but changing the outcome of the future. I applaud the protesters of the occupy movement and the protesters at different universities for standing up for what they feel is right.
Unfortunately students like me are too busy working two jobs and striving to get good grades, which means protesting is an activity that doesn’t fit in the mix.
“Stand outside [protesting], I’d rather just pay it,” Ahankoob said.