Monday, 7/7/97 Higher costs cause rise in student aid Available
loans have not kept pace with demand, tuition of California
colleges
By Dawnya Pring Daily Bruin Contributor The path to a college
degree consists of much more than double cappuccinos and
all-nighters. Today’s students are using more borrowed money to get
through college – money they will slowly be required to pay back
after graduation, according to a new study published by The
California Higher Education Policy Center, California Trends in
Student Aid: 1990 to 1996. Although student aid has increased by 70
percent since 1990, over half of the increased aid has come in the
form of student loans. The amount of the average Stafford loan
taken by a UC student grew by 15 percent over the last six years,
according to the study. During that same time period, UC fees rose
by 97 percent, while tuition at comparable independent schools rose
only 12 percent. "Overall, California colleges and universities are
much less affordable today than they were in the early 1990s," said
report author Lawrence Gladieux. "Without a stronger commitment
from the state to its neediest students," Gladieux added,
"California will continue down the path of becoming a
high-tuition/high-debt state, leaving thousands of poorer students
shut out of a college education." Indeed, figuring out how to pay
for school has become a challenge for many, and California’s
college students are headed down a financially rocky road. With UC
tuition soaring to all-time highs, students are scrambling to find
ways to pay registration fees. "It’s really stressful," said
Carrine Briskin, a third-year student. "I work about 25 hours a
week, have a couple of different grants and borrow as much money as
I’m eligible for. The reason I go to summer school is because I
can’t always take a full load during the regular school year and do
well – I just get too stressed about paying my bills." Briskin is
not alone. According to the report, 54 percent of California’s
college students borrowed $2.6 billion last year. Jason Dillie, a
fourth-year student, is among them. "I have to be at my internship
10 hours a week, work 25 hours a week and spend 15 hours a week in
class," said an exasperated Dillie. "That’s 50 hours a week and
that doesn’t include time for sleeping and studying. I can’t wait
until it’s all over." It seems Briskin and Dillie are members of
the majority – students who are rapidly accumulating debt. But
students are not alone; families are also bearing an increased
financial burden as well. "I don’t really think about the money I’m
getting. I’m just so grateful to be getting a check," said
Elizabeth Cardenas, a fourth-year psychology student. "I have too
much to worry about now, I can’t think about the future," she
continued – a future which includes repaying her student loans.
Cardenas receives financial assistance from family members and
several types of student loans and grants. While California’s
economy has improved over the last six years, the study found that
the average family income has decreased. Since UC fees have risen
faster than the average family income, more students and their
parents are spending a higher percentage of their income on
education. As a result, families – as well as students – are
borrowing more to pay for college. Despite this bleak picture,
however, Ronald W. Johnson, director of the financial aid office,
thinks the situation is looking a little brighter. "(Financial aid)
started to change this past year," Johnson said. "I think a lot of
it has to do with President Clinton and his commitment to education
… There is legislation in the works that – if passed – (would)
have a very positive effect on the cost of education." But the
much-touted education tax credit – part of a tax bill that passed
in both houses of Congress – was recently vetoed by President
Clinton. Regardless of the outcome of any new legislation, however,
in order to make college more affordable and provide some normalcy
to students’ lives, Johnson said it was important to keep a lid on
ever-rising tuition costs. "California lacks a financial plan for
higher education," said Patrick M. Callan, executive director of
The California Higher Education Policy Center in the report. "(The
report) shows that the students are the big losers when California
has no long-term answers" to questions regarding the future and
stability of financial aid, he added. Authors of the report
recommended increasing state investment to need-based financial
aid, better delivery of aid and controls on tuition costs. Whether
or not legislators will pay heed to these recommendations, however,
is uncertain. What can be determined from the report is that,
during the last six years, financial aid has not kept the pace with
financial need. "Incoming freshmen (who are) worried about how they
are going to pay for their next four years of college (have)
reached an all-time high," said Linda Sax, director of UCLA’s
Higher Education Research Institute. "Financial concerns are also
impacting their college choices. Students are applying to more
colleges than ever, waiting to see which school can offer them the
best financial package." Candice Lee, an incoming transfer student,
is still not sure how paying for her next year of school will work
out, but she remains optimistic. "Hopefully, (financial aid) will
all just fall into place," Lee said. "I’m still waiting to find out
exactly what I’ll receive. I plan to work, get some help from my
parents and (take out) some student loans." Lee summed up what
seemed to be the general consensus among many UCLA students:
although it might be rough going, somewhere, somehow, it would all
come together. "I paid for college all sorts of ways," said recent
graduate Lynn Cox, who dropped out of school briefly after her
freshman year, when her parents could not afford to help pay for
her education. "I was completely overwhelmed. Although my parents
weren’t giving me any money, I was still too young to be considered
independent, so I wasn’t eligible for any grants. I ended up
getting lots of loans." Although after graduation, Cox landed a job
making $32,000 a year, she still worries about making loan payments
every month. "There are so many unforeseen expenses that pop up,
and then taxes," Cox said. "It could be 15 years before everything
is paid off." Today’s students agree that they have a good
understanding of the "real world," and don’t expect their financial
situation to change with a politician’s speech or a massive study.
"It takes lots of perseverance to get through school," said Cox
with a smile. Previous Daily Bruin Story Wilson offers new funding,
eschwing fee increase, January 6, 1997