More bang for the buck

Coming to the UW as an out-of-state student, I find myself constantly staring at the tuition rate listed on the UW Web site, and wondering if the money that I'm paying to become "educated" is really being put to good use.

For in-state students, it is a remarkable opportunity. In comparison to other public universities, in-state tuition at the UW is rather low at $1,656 per quarter for students taking 10 to18 credits.

Considering the facilities offered, the cost to attend UW appears to be quite a deal. For example, $35 for use of the IMA is extremely cheap when compared to membership at a gym. I've never heard of a college giving a special deal on commuting, so I was amazed by the fact that students pay only $35 for a U-PASS giving unlimited bus transportation and free carpool parking for the quarter. Moreover, the multitude of resources available through libraries at this research university is amazing.

The wide variety of opportunities for students, provided by the University and student organizations, shows the tuition extends to any and all areas of education. However, given the huge student population, it is difficult for students to get into many of the competitive majors. In addition, there is less room for students to change their minds or opt for a double major, as recent legislature is, through various methods, pushing students to graduate as quickly as possible.

The Web site for the student group Affordable Tuition Now! throws out some figures that show increasing tuition hinders students' post-college experience, as many are more likely to be left in debt from student loans.

However, it appears that while tuition is increasing, the achievement of students in the classroom, and optimistically the quality of education, is rising as well. According to a survey from the Office of the Registrar, the average grade-point average of students at UW rose between 1975 and 2001.

Sitting in the dark and gloomy basement of Mercer Hall, despite paying an exorbitant out of state tuition rate, I decided, like most out of staters, that I'm going to become a resident. That is, until I read the residency requirements listed on the UW Web site that show this to be nearly impossible unless a student takes a year off from college. To gain resident status, students must prove they are not in Washington for primarily educational purposes by taking six fewer or less credits and being financially independent. So, stuck paying out-of-state tuition, students must pay $5,374 per quarter with fewer scholarship opportunities available to them than to residents.

It is understandable that out-of-state students pay more; the UW is a public university funded by Washington residents and thus, tuition for out-of-state students comes at a price.

However, the extra $3,718 that non-residents pay per quarter to attend the UW is excessive. All those facilities and advantages provided by the UW are great, but much of the financing for those projects comes on the back of out-of-state families.

It appears that the UW is taking advantage of students living in residence halls. It costs $2,715 to live in a cramped triple room each quarter; each month it costs about $900 with gas, phone and utilities provided. It's not uncommon to hear students talking about the gross rooming rate and how they're moving into an apartment as a result. The only amenity that this money seems to provide is the social aspect of living in a building with a few hundred other students.

In terms of room and board, I'm sure that most students will figure out what suits their interests best, whether that is staying in a dorm room, embracing the Greek system or moving into an apartment. However, when it comes down to the price for tuition, resident students seem to be getting a fair amount of bang for their buck, while the rest of us must come from wealthy enough families that we are able to take the heavy blow on our wallets.