MSU's tuition rate provides educational insight

Looking at the tuition numbers for public universities in Michigan makes it seem as if MSU is giving us a pretty good bang for our buck. Even given an increase of 2.5 percent from the 2009-10 academic year, MSU’s tuition is several hundred dollars less than that of the University of Michigan, which increased 1.5 percent to $11,837, and Michigan Technological University, which increased 5.9 percent to $12,017.

Amid the ruins of the program moratoriums, rate increases and tuition, it can be hard to see that the quality of our education — given the tuition we pay — is not all that horrible. It isn’t a bargain, but it is in line with the U.S. News & World Report’s findings that MSU is the second-highest ranked public university in the state.

Count this as one of the few times coming in second place could be construed as a good thing. Actually, the numbers might even indicate we never will have the highest tuition in the state.
For example, MSU has to work hard to make sure its tuition never surpasses that of U-M. There is a general perception that U-M is a better university. MSU excels in certain areas that U-M does not, but overall U-M is more selective. If MSU’s tuition was to exceed that of its closest rival, the university might be in danger of losing a number of qualified applicants.

The point could be best illustrated by MSU Trustee Donald Nugent. Nugent said the university might look at tuitions across the state, but the main objective was to “keep the tuition as low as we can while still providing the quality MSU students expect and deserve.”

The answer is vague, but given the general perception of U-M, it isn’t too far of a reach to say the quality we expect as MSU students is slightly less than that of U-M students. Our tuition always will be lower until there is a comprehensive change in the perceived quality of the overall academic experience.

This isn’t to say MSU is a bad school to attend. In actuality, it is a good school to go to, but MSU’s bread and butter rests on the idea it can give a good education for a reasonable price. It is, in a sense, a university for the middle-class family that can offer an above-average education at a competitive price.

Hopefully no one was too put off by that semi-analysis. MSU is a good school at a price that appears to be reasonable given the rest of the universities in the state. Although not a lot can be ascertained from tuition, it is a factor in how students chose the university they attend. Keeping tuition at a level that reflects MSU’s dedication to the quality of education it offers is a good thing for the college-bound in this state.