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Brigham Young University plans 2010 tuition hike

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Anonymous | 12:53 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Now before this message board is flooded with anti-mormon comments about how it is unfair that non-mormons pay twice as much tuition to attend... Don't forget that the Mormons who attend BYU pay 10% of their income in tithing for their entire lives!!!

I'm glad I've ended this argument before it started!!
shawilli | 1:03 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I will go out on a limb and venture a guess that the tuition rates will continue to increase with each passing year. The "great Recession" is going to end up doing a great deal of damage to family budgets everywhere, rising tuition rates and rising prices on everything are already taking a terrible toll on people all across this country. I don't personally see any positive outcome to all the price increases, once the recession is over sadly the "new higher prices" in place will not be lowered and people will simply end up having to pay much higher prices for education or food the rent etc. That is the downside of a recession ending that many people don't stop to consider, prices rise during a recession to new levels and then don't go back down to the old levels. The recession is going to one day end yet the damage that this will have done to this country will scar this country for many, many years to come. The recovery is going to be very slow and millions will have lost jobs and homes and end up paying more.
Still a good deal | 1:06 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Wow, tuition's so cheap at the Y. At UCLA I'm paying 40,000 a year . . . as an undergrad!
Comments continue below
bergstro | 1:07 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
BYU tuition could triple, and it would still be a steal compared to other comparable institutions.
RE: anon | 1:11 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Um, I think you just started the argument.
boooo! | 1:12 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
boooo!
Figure It Out. | 1:23 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Gee what a surprise that they are rising it AGAIN!! when will it end? Pretty soon they will raise it so that kids can not afford to go to College, Wait ago BYU,
My first semester | 1:26 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
950 dollars in 1991....My last semester was 1380... After professional school which was around 20,000 a semester, I realized what a deal BYU was. The undergrad was 4000 per semester for instate tuition where I went to professional school!

3% increase is very modest. My professional school tuition increased 11% each of my last 3 years (2000-2003)! OUCH. Education is an investment. Its return is much higher than what is invested.
lh | 1:46 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
The phrase is "Way to go", not "Wait ago".

wait ago? | 1:47 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
College is not for everyone
Anonymous | 1:50 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
WhY is this news? BYU has raised their tuition rates every year since 2003. They didn't from 2001 to 2002 due to the problems following 9-11. In 2002 I was paying about $1,500/semester and you could see what the rates are now. They also increase fees and rental prices every year.
BYU vs Notre Dame | 1:59 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
My undergrad was at BYU. For my graduate program at Notre Dame, the tuition is currently $38,860 per year. BYU students have it awfully good.
Bill | 2:01 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Actual it is unfair that members pay that amount. There are enough members that want to go there and since it is a private instituion it should be much more expensive than it is. Guess what anonymous the mormon students at other schools pay that 10% as well. As far as comparable that depends on the program. BYU does charge more for its better programs but believe it or not many of its programs are inferior to the same program at other schools that BYU folks think are inferior.
Re: Shawilli | 2:11 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Before your next post, you may want to spend a little money on an economics class or two.
Look at CNN | 2:12 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Today they had a related article on the most expensive Universities in the US. All had 3-4% increases in their tuition this year. Pretty standard.
Dr. J | 2:23 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
$1200 tuition per semester back in the 90's and a six figure income today (that's before the decimal UU grads). Great investment--and I willingly pay my tithes and taxes.

But please BYU, if you cut the grounds staff by about half and mow the lawn only when it needs to be mowed, I would estimate the savings to be in the millions annually.
re: figure it out | 2:35 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Just open your eyes and look around a little at tuition rates across the country. My friend is getting his MBA at Notre Dame and he pays $40k a year compared to BYU's $9k/year. I have other friends paying similar amounts just for their undergrads. BYU is extremely affordable!
CPA Alum | 2:37 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
You Figure It Out...

You're kidding right? This is the least expensive private tuition (and much less than MANY state schools) in the nation! Let alone the fact that it is one of the best schools around (e.g., regular ranked in the top 10 for business programs).

If state schools like UCLA are $20k per semester just to keep the lights on, as a tithe payer, I sort of wish they would raise it even more (and yes, I have two kids there myself...)
RE: Ih | 2:41 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I think I prefer "Wait ago."

Kind of like a "moo point" (It's like what a cow says, it just doesn't matter, it's moo.)

Would have liked to see some price comparisons to other institutions. What do University of Utah students pay? How about other private institutions - Notre Dame, Temple. I don't know why BYU is not rated among the best values in education every year. It is almost as if US News and World Report does not believe tuition is $2,500, not $25,000.

Great school, great value (as long as you can put up with those 5% of BYU students that everyone hates.)
BYU=Biased | 2:43 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
BYU is biased against non members, just look at the tuition, it's designed in my opinion to lure members of the church only to the Y. They don't want non members, they want only members whose parents pay for their whole education.
Byu=good deal | 3:22 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
The average private school for one year of tuition is around $25,000!! BYU is a top 100 school ( us news) and obviously a private school but is extremely cheap! The LDS church pays for the majority of the students tuition EVEN NON LDS STUDENTS! Naturally they pay even more for LDS students because it's a church owned school. LDS or non LDS it's still one of the best values in America!
To Dr J | 3:29 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Think about your comment about the grounds. Nearly all that labor is provided by students who work, and are paid. They then spend that money for school, housing, and food. Better than no financial aid, and requires effort rather than nothing like grant, or scholarship, which BYU is very generous with also.
Anonymous | 3:33 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Why would red box make their machines? WHY?
Ace | 3:42 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
To BYU=Biased, give me a break.
I went to the University of Kansas as an out-of-state student, and paid 4 times what in-state students paid. I guess, by your logic KU=Biased to all non-Kansas people.
BYU is a great deal, and a great education.
BYU-Biased is Crazy | 3:46 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
To BYU=Biased:

Wow. Your logic is amazing... you must have attended a prestigious school yourself.
Pagan | 3:46 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Go to Salt Lake community college, or the University of Utah. It's cheaper.

And you can date while you do it!
Fredd | 4:08 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Just don't start a calendar business!!!
Clovisfan  | 4:27 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Every student that attends BYU gets the equivalent of a scholarship because the tuition is so cheap. The Brethren want to make the tuition affordable and have done a great job in doing that. Attending BYU is a privilege, so those that attend have to earn it. I think it's a great system. The great education available at BYU is not rationed so much by abiltiy to pay as by talent, ability and hard work.
BYU grad | 4:58 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I agree BYU is the deal of deals in higher ed. But has anyone checked out the inflation rate of tuition over past 20 years and compared to the curent hot button - healthcare? I'll bet tuition increases exceed healthcare cost increases, especially if you exclude all the new procedures not available 20 yrs ago.

In general, higher ed has little accountability and spends money faster than almost anyone else.
Anonymous | 5:04 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Tuition has increased every year since I started attending school. It was nice back when it was $1920. In the end it isn't that much more and it is still a lot cheaper than other schools.
1984 | 5:13 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I paid about $750 for a semester at BYU in 1984!

What gives?

Milk has gone up 75% since then.
Gas has gone up 120 % since then.

pay has gone from $5.00 hr to $9.00 hour for many student type jobs.

How does tuition go up to over $2000?? Oh, yeah, pay for all the new buildings!
Great Bargain | 6:01 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I sent my daughter to BYU for less money than I paid for may son here in Colorado for in state tuition. I think it is a bargain.
Allan Sanders | 6:01 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Those who are complaining that BYU's tuition is too high are far removed from reality. Having graduated from both BYU and Harvard, I will tell you that BYU is the deal of a lifetime. Best education for the dollar bar none.
Concerned Mom | 6:40 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Who cares if you get a discount on BYU tuition because you pay tithing? In its efforts to become the "Harvard of the West" under Holland, BYU effectively rejects most of the students from good, tithing-paying families! If you can't get into BYU, then you can't take advantage of the tuition and tithing "credit"! Therefore, those of us who are not among the aristocracy of the Church end up subsidizing the children of the rich, famous, and "connected" with our tithing dollars PLUS we have to pay higher tuition at some other school! I am so disgusted with it, I can't stand it.
Re: Concerned Mom | 7:25 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I attended BYU from 1971-1975 (tuition $300 per semester the entire 4 years) and was not from "the aristocracy, rich, famous or connected" (and not from Utah)...I just happened to have good grades so I was admitted. Quit trying to blame BYU for your children not being admitted - they weren't the best students to apply that year.
BYU Alum | 8:08 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
No matter what it costs to attend BYU, it is worth every penny! I have benefited beyond words as a result of the awesome education I received at BYU. The entire time I was there I was humbled and honored by the fact that I knew hundreds of other people would have been thrilled to take my place as a student there anyday, anytime!
Re: Bill | 8:13 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Students don't pay extra for more prestigious programs (unless you are referring to grad school). Undergrads all pay the same rate whether they are in the business school or sociology.
BYU Alum | 8:27 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
If you don't think BYU is worth it, you don't have to go there. It isn't as if students don't have an alternative. If non-Mormons don't think it is worth it at 2x, then they don't have to go there. It's not as if they don't have an alternative.

College tuition has been rising across the country for decades. The inflation rate is not the best measuring rod, because university costs have to do with all the expenses associated with a university, and they have been rising faster than inflation.
Zadruga Guy | 8:53 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
@Concerned Mom -- BYU is a meritocracy. The students with the best grades in tough classes and test scores get in. In marginal cases, they also look at factors such as service projects done by the applicants and their degree of extra-curriculur involvement.

I strongly suspect that even a GA's son or daughter gets exactly the same consideration as anyone else -- if you are good enough, you get in, otherwise you don't.

If you don't think that admission on the basis of who is most qualified is the appropriate criteria, then what would you use instead? Given that the Church has 13 million members, it is impossible for everyone to be admitted who is "from good, tithing-paying families."
Marquette Alum | 9:05 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I graduated from BYU in 1999 with no debt. Dental school at Marquette was over $35,000.00 every year. I have heard it is over $40k now. My BYU education was a steal and I can only hope my kids can go there in the future.
PAC 10 | 10:04 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
If BYU will double their Tuition, they can become a prestigous research school and BYU can then be admitted into the PAC 10. Small price to pay to run with the big dogs.
great value | 10:12 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I earned my undergraduate and graduate degrees from BYU. It's a bargain. Even if tuition doubled, it would still be a bargain. It's a first class education from a private university at a bargain rate.
Mona | 10:19 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Concerned Mom: I am sorry if your family members have not been admitted to BYU. But it has to be for a reason other than your lack of "connections." I was admitted to BYU with zero "connections"--I was a new convert, came from a smokin' drinkin' family, didn't know the words to the hymns and wouldn't have known a GA if they had knocked me over the head w/ a 2x4. Didn't even know what Relief Society meant! Most of my roommates were from humble dirt-farming families.


mom from washington | 10:59 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
$65.00 is a steal compared to the increase in tuition at Washington State University. It is cheaper for our son to attend BYU-I than to stay in is own hometown and live in his own bedroom. Our other two children went to USU to have the LDS experience and had the privilege of paying $6,000 per year just for out of state tuition. Of course they couldn't become residents after 1 year, it takes 2. That totaled $12,000 per year times 2 children= $24,000--not including tuition for classes or living expenses. That was what was a rip off!!
Re: PAC 10 | 11:30 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Get a clue paper boy. This article has nothing to do with athletics. Besides, BYU doesn't need the PAC 10.
MissouriJoe | 11:35 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
I agree with Concerned Mom. The selection criteria are set by the governing body in order to position BYU as a "selective" school. That's a decision. It means many, many spiritually dedicated, but less academically talented kids are rejected. And they are rejected by the same institution to which, in all aspects, they're loyal.

The marginal benefits of attending BYU relate to future earning potential, which in turn, relates to social status. It is inappropriate for a religious organization to be in an enterprise that must differentiate based on talent and test scores.

I just don't understand why the church is in the education business when there are abundant public and private university alternatives. Why create the dilemma of having to reject kids (and their families) due to their God-given weaknesses? Why create a tiered system where one designated school is selective and elite?

MIssouriJoe | 11:45 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
To Zagruda Guy: Yes you're right - BYU is a meritocracy. As are Harvard, Yale, University of Chicago, Stanford, etc.

My question is, how do you harmonize the need to reject faithful members due to academic inadequacy with the mission of the Church?
MJB | 12:12 a.m. Oct. 31, 2009
re: missouri joe

You want to know why BYU is selective? BECAUSE IT'S A UNIVERSITY....... A LEARNING INSTITUTION. If it admitted on spiritual quality it would be a monastery not a university.
MissouriJoe | 1:51 a.m. Oct. 31, 2009
To MJB - Exactly! Monasteries teach religious principles to faithful adherents. It seems a good fit for a church to be in the business of running monasteries.

Universities teach math, engineering, history, etc. Students learn skills, graduate, and go on to make money. Why would a church want to be in the position to decide which faithful disciple is capable of being an engineer or doctor or lawyer? It's a dilemma intrinsic to any church that runs a university. BYU and Mormons, Notre Dame and Catholics, Oral Roberts U. and - well I don't know which denomination that is.

I'm not questioning that BYU is a university. I'm questioning why the church sponsors it. Mormon kids could just as easily go to their best suited state or private schools. There are plenty of good ones to chose from.

And, a minor point, most universities aren't selective. BYU is positioning itself as an elite, selective school. But that's a strategy, not a requirement. I think it's a fairly recent strategy (past couple of decades).
to concerned mom | 3:03 a.m. Oct. 31, 2009
waah waah. you wouldn't believe how many people apply to BYU. They can't accept everyone. So they choose the best or most promising students -- when the demand exceeds the supply, a school can do that. So maybe you should have encouraged your children to get better grades and to excel in other areas. Don't tell me how you can't stand BYU. Based on your attitude I can guess why your kids didn't make the cut.

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