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State Ranks Low in College Bills

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By Susan Simpson, The Daily Oklahoman

Oct. 19--Oklahoma ranks seventh-lowest in tuition and fees at four-year public universities, according to a report released Tuesday by the College Board, makers of the SAT.

The report shows the annual cost of attending a four-year state institution is $3,430, well below the national average of $5,491 for tuition and fees.

"It's still a bargain in Oklahoma," said Maryanne Maletz, vice chancellor for budget and finance for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Puerto Rico offered the cheapest rates at $1,410 and was followed by Nevada, Florida, Hawaii, Georgia and New Mexico.

Maletz said the cost of college is often much cheaper than the $3,430 cited by the College Board. Their Oklahoma average lumps together comprehensive universities like the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University with less-costly regional campuses such as the University of Central Oklahoma.

Oklahoma didn't fare as well among the states for tuition at two-year public colleges.

Oklahoma was 23rd-lowest, with annual tuition and fees of $2,260. The national average for community colleges is $2,191.

Maletz said most Oklahoma community colleges do not receive ad valorem money. In many other states, tuition is subsidized by local property taxes.

Tuition and fees at all state higher education institutions increased an average 7.4 percent this aca- demic year, less than in recent years. The hike was 9.2 percent in 2004 and 18 percent in 2003.

The College Board report showed Oklahoma's private universities are much less expensive than most other states.

Annual tuition and fees average $13,420, the ninth-lowest in the ranking. The national average for a private university is $21,235.

Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, commended states for minimizing tuition increases.

"In the coming years, our country cannot afford to have segments of our population left out of higher education."

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Daily Oklahoman

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Source: The Daily Oklahoman

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