2008 Woodie Awards
Paying the bills
Fee increases alter student body
Carolyn Strauss
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Fuse
Originally published: 4/19/07 at 3:56 PM EST
Last update: 4/19/07 at 4:47 PM EST
When the cost of college increased the state-based financial aid, in the form of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), increased the amount of aid given to low income students.
Middle income students, were forced to take out more college loans.
"Intermediate need students had to take out extra loans," Moravec said. "They make too much to be eligible for Medicaid but still can't pay right out of their pocket."
Because all SUNY schools increased tuition at the same time, though, Moravec saw few changes in the socioeconomic structure at PSUC.
"Our tuition has always been the same as other SUNY schools," Moravec said. "The increase didn't really affect much because there was still a level playing field."
If a prospective student were to compare college costs, all SUNY schools would have the same tuition - a rate lower than most private schools and other state schools. The affordability of PSUC has always been a selling point to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, Moravec said. Any student, regardless of income, can afford college at PSUC through loans and financial aid. For this reason the socioeconomic gap has always remained low at PSUC.
Although PSUC used to have above average costs for mandatory and optional fees, such as room and board and meal plans, Moravec said they are now average to below average.
This is partly because it is not as expensive to live in Plattsburgh as it is to live in areas that some other SUNY schools, such as Potsdam, are in.
Although state-based financial aid didn't have much of an effect on low-income students, aid given to students by the institution itself can favor the middle- and high-income populations.
Many of the grants and scholarships given to students by PSUC are no longer need-based, Moravec said. There is a greater focus on merit-based scholarships than there once was. Since many middle and high income students come from better neighborhoods, receive better educations and do better in school they are more likely than low income students to receive merit based aid.
Regardless of financial status, most PSUC students receive some type of aid, Moravec said.
During the 2005-06 school year, 87 percent of all full-time undergraduate students received financial aid.
Even with aid, many students must take out college loans to pay for their education - regardless of whether they are low, medium or high income.
"It sounds like a lot of money, and it is," Higgins said. "But if you were at a private school, such as St. Lawrence, you would be paying much more."
Middle income students, were forced to take out more college loans.
"Intermediate need students had to take out extra loans," Moravec said. "They make too much to be eligible for Medicaid but still can't pay right out of their pocket."
Because all SUNY schools increased tuition at the same time, though, Moravec saw few changes in the socioeconomic structure at PSUC.
"Our tuition has always been the same as other SUNY schools," Moravec said. "The increase didn't really affect much because there was still a level playing field."
If a prospective student were to compare college costs, all SUNY schools would have the same tuition - a rate lower than most private schools and other state schools. The affordability of PSUC has always been a selling point to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, Moravec said. Any student, regardless of income, can afford college at PSUC through loans and financial aid. For this reason the socioeconomic gap has always remained low at PSUC.
Although PSUC used to have above average costs for mandatory and optional fees, such as room and board and meal plans, Moravec said they are now average to below average.
This is partly because it is not as expensive to live in Plattsburgh as it is to live in areas that some other SUNY schools, such as Potsdam, are in.
Although state-based financial aid didn't have much of an effect on low-income students, aid given to students by the institution itself can favor the middle- and high-income populations.
Many of the grants and scholarships given to students by PSUC are no longer need-based, Moravec said. There is a greater focus on merit-based scholarships than there once was. Since many middle and high income students come from better neighborhoods, receive better educations and do better in school they are more likely than low income students to receive merit based aid.
Regardless of financial status, most PSUC students receive some type of aid, Moravec said.
During the 2005-06 school year, 87 percent of all full-time undergraduate students received financial aid.
Even with aid, many students must take out college loans to pay for their education - regardless of whether they are low, medium or high income.
"It sounds like a lot of money, and it is," Higgins said. "But if you were at a private school, such as St. Lawrence, you would be paying much more."
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