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Many parents have been carrying out hasty calculations since being aware of the UK government's plans for university top-up fees. One question being debated by parents is whether the parents should begin saving straight away or send their sons/daughters out to earn high amounts.

The plans for top-up university fees mean that parents and grandparents should start saving for children's education, says Fidelity. At present, only 6 per cent of 35-54-year-olds investing in an […]

Tony Blair held a meeting with the vice-chancellors of Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol, Nottingham and other universities to discuss top-up fees in an attempt to galvanise support for the policy. The government has admitted to be considering allowing universities to add to the around UKPd1,000/yr current fee to boost funding. Clare Short was the first Cabinet minister to publicly criticise the policy. She is supported by 65 Labour backbenchers, who have signed a parliamentary motion for the government to reject the fees.

The issue of funding university education is discussed, with the author criticising the Tories for expanding higher education without raising the funds to pay for it. He argues that the privileged should be prepared to pay for higher education. The current UKPd1,000/yr flat-rate fee does not help solve the problem. Not only is this figure a mere fraction of the true cost of courses, it also fails to acknowledge that some degrees are worth more than others and that some universities are more expensive.

A report card grading each state on its support for higher education found that colleges have become less affordable in most places, compared with two years ago, the last time [...]

As the cost of higher education rises, students are looking for a more affordable way to get a degree. For many students, starting their college career at a community college [...]

The government is considering setting higher fees for some university courses than for others as part of an effort to raise extra funds for universities. Advisers to the Department for Education & Skills argue that the current UKPd1,100/yr single charge is untenable and does not reflect the true cost of higher education. Any new fee scheme would require a change in legislation.

The University of Oregon has raised tuition, as the state budget covers only 13% of higher education costs. A prospective students finds the campus inviting.

The author lauds the fact that eliminated or reduced fees have increased college accessibility, but the government is taking it a step forward and considering offer employers free training for their employees even if they can afford to pay. This would reduce colleges ability to offer resources to those who cannot pay.

The University of Arkansas board of trustees voted on April 5 to increase tuition at 10 of the UA system's 12 campuses. The proposed increases per credit hour for undergraduate [...]

Colleges have long exploited the inelasticity of tuition price with unjustifiable increases, but recent boosts are beyond the pale. Numerous universities, including George Washington, Baylor, and Texas Christian, are planning hikes in the high-single and low-double digits. The decreasing value of endowments and investments, due to plummeting fund and stock valuations, is among the factors cited.

The choice of colleges and universities depends both on merit and on finance. The ideal situation would be on merit alone, but the sad reality is that finances plays a major role. A recent initiative by Pres. Clinton which allows a $10,000-a-year tax deduction for college tuition would bring US society closer to the ideal. Another policy change that would bring the ideal closer to reality would be college tuition based on federal income tax rates., Pres Clinton's proposed $10,000-a-year tax deduction for college tuition reopens issues about how our society finances higher education, and about who receives subsidies. Virtually everyone now agrees that able but [...]