Image via WikipediaOK, OK, all the time, we hear how low our tuition is compared to our peer institutions in neighboring states - much less in comparison to national figures. Well, the bottom line is that an education at Southeastern is a bargain - a Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, Dollar Tree-level bargain compared to what students pay in Texas (even BEFORE TOPS kicks in!).
This was driven home by reading this article by Erin Mulvaney of the Dallas Morning News:
Texas' financial aid for college students could dwindle even more | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News
Her article spoke to the rapid rise that in tuition and fees that has occurred over the past five years or so across the landscape of Texas public colleges and universities (and trust me, you will see sticker shock!). Now, I'm not quite yet in the teen college shopping experience just yet, but Mulvaney's article prompted me to do a little research comparing the total tab at my alma mater (Stephen F. Austin) and Southeastern. According to the tuition and fee calculator on their website, your Fall 2010 tuition and fees at Stephen F. Austin State University would run you - are you sitting down - $3,498.75 if you are a Texas resident or if you are from Louisiana, you would still be able to pay at that level due to the fact they offer Louisiana-residents a "border state rate." What's your tab for Fall 2010 at Southeastern Louisiana University - even AFTER our 10% tuition increase - $2,014.80. OK, quick math - that means for the same size, same level school, the Texas version would run you $1,483.95 - almost 74% more! Multiply that by a full academic year and then times the 4, 5, 6 years you would be attending - hey, that's your new Hyundai or a nice down payment on a house (and again, that's based on the tab BEFORE your TOPS scholarship applies)!
When you look at those kind of numbers, you understand why our higher education leaders keep emphasizing how low our tuition is and while yes, it makes your checking account happy today, but to stay a leading university, Southeastern and all Louisiana institutions have to have a proper level of support AND students paying a bill that is not at the "Big Lots" level!
David
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All I can say is that I am happy I chose Southeastern and that the President of our University knows what he is doing.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern has always been a "bargain." The fact that I have been paying my tuition out of pocket since day one is the primary reason I chose this school over LSU. Unfortunately, due to the recent state budget cuts and more cuts expected next fiscal year, the cost of tuition here at SELU must go up to accommodate.
ReplyDeleteI know we are all pretty quick to complain about SLU's tuition increase, but overall we are still getting a bargain. I too was supposed to go to LSU, but I ended up at SLU because of many reasons. It was very close to home and the textbook rental system is amazing! I also like the fact that we can actually talk to our teachers during their office hours. My friends at LSU tell me that it's very hard to get in touch with your teacher outside of class.
ReplyDeleteI love SELU. It's cheap. The teachers are good. The class size is small. What else could you want? Education should be more affordable and accessible to everyone.
ReplyDeleteIm happy Southeasteren have a low tuition fee. At times we still complain about how much college cost but looking at the fee's in other schools, we are considered to be lucky.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I came to Southeastern. I used to go to LSU. But with the amount it cost for books and the amount the my tops did not pay came out to be too much to afford. Southeastern became a lifesaver.
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky that the schools in Louisiana are cheaper then out of states schools. I think it is sad for people who want to make a better life for themselves and can't because they cant get the help they need to go to college. One of the reasons I chose SLU was because it had lower tuition to our neighboring colleges. Not only do we have lower tuition but the school also helps us save on books by renting. I am very happy with the school I picked.
ReplyDeleteThe low tuition was a major factor in deciding to attend SLU. I am blessed not to have any college debt, and I do not receive grants. However, I would not have that luxury if I went to school anywhere else. I could not afford housing alone, plus an increased tuition, forget it. So, I am very glad to have the opportunity to attend SLU.
ReplyDeleteI have decided that I am going to pay for each semester up front. With the way the economy is going and how rough the job markets are, I want to be able to acquire my bachelor’s degree free of debt. I knew this would be a hard goal to accomplish and I wouldn’t have been able to do this at any other university except Southeastern. Even with the tuition increases, Southeastern has a very affordable tuition cost. Not only does Southeastern offer a cheap undergrad program, check out their graduate program costs. From the research I have done, the business school at Southeastern is by far the cheapest.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you posted this article. Every where i go and everything i do i hear people knock on southeastern calling it "slow learners university" and so on becuase we are in hammond and the tuition is reasonable. To me, a dergree is a degree. Some colleges are more accredited than others, i get that. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong with southeastern because for 1. the tuition is great compared to other colleges 2. We rent our books, props to everyone else that knocks on southeastern, we dont pay for out books.
ReplyDeleteIm happy that i chose southeaster because they have low intuition and rental books. My boyfriend goes uno. He has to buy books and pays $100 for only decal parking. It's so expensive. My financial aid pay off my intuition and i still have some money left for gas and food.
ReplyDeleteI love Southeastern not only because they tuition is low but because we get to rent our books, which can save a single student almost $1000. Also, I love the Progression Scholarship program, because now being a senior and having TOPS, my tuition is fully paid for PLUS I get an extra $400 left over! The couple thousand dollar tuition at Southeastern is very low compared to other universities that are almost $30,000+ a year. I also hate that people rag on Southeastern because it isn't a high credited school, but I'm not the one who will be in debt for the rest of my life from student loans.
ReplyDeleteI was really considering going to Texas for school before I graduated high school. I'm not at all shocked that their tuition is so much higher than ours. It makes me happy that Southeastern's tuition is not "expensive" compared to other neighboring schools.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that Southeastern's tuition is so affordable! I feel so bad for all the students whose tuition is so high they have to take out huge student loans. I can't imagine starting a new career and not being able to enjoy the pay increase because every penny goes to trying to get out of debt!
ReplyDeleteAt first I was upset that tuition was going up but once I educated myself I was not mad. SLU is an amazing college and is the only one I would go to if I did it all over again. Yes it is a bargin and that is why I chose it but now I see that the education you will get when you graduate will hopefully make you standout among all of the graduating students from other schools.
ReplyDeleteAttending Southeastern is a huge bargain for me especially when you don’t have rich parents and basically on your own when it comes down to paying for school. One of the main reasons I came to Southeastern was because of the textbook rental system- it has done wonders for me and a lot of other students too. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I chose Southeastern. THe tuition is low, the commute isn't bad for me, and the rental textbook program is great. I am so glad I chose to come here. I love it!
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is one of the best colleges when weighing out academics to costs. I feel like I'm getting just as good an education as most other students who attend more costly colleges, I just get to save money. I barely pay anything for tuition after TOPS and all my other grants, and being able to rent our textbooks is another great advantage we have at Southeastern. I commute from New Orleans three days a week having the majority of my expenses go to gas. However, this doesn't really affect me, because I know all the money I saved from choosing Southeastern to further my education.
ReplyDeleteI am happy with SLU’s prices, they have always seemed reasonable especially with the text book rental system. A friend of mine just graduated from Tulane and has to pay off her $140,000.00 student loan, so I am very happy with SLU.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of schools that I could have and still can attend, but southeastern is more convient for me. This school has low tuition and more one on one teaching from teachers. When I get my degree i will know that i earned it and it was worth coming to SLU.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is a top notch school at a great price! The university is saving students so much money in ways we don't even realize. So I believe if it costs a little extra to have great, well-qualified teachers then do what has to be done!
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is a great school for the price, even the lower end schools in the state aren't that much cheaper than SELU.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy at Southeastern. The teachers are really good and now that i've seen a price comparision, i'm happy about that too. It's almost the same to go to community college as SLU, so that's another even better to get a degree from a good University like SLU than a community college.
ReplyDeleteThis really hits home, as I have been to two institutions in Louisiana in my college career. Both of which were more expensive that SE and I do not feel that I received anything special from them that I am not receiving from SE. I especially love SE for the book rentals. Just that in itself is enough to justify the "bargain" portion of this blog.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is great in that it is so affordable. I can say that the junior college in MS that I went to for a semester had a higher tuition than that of Southeastern's.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that SELU was one of the bottom universities but now that I am here I can say that it is one of the BEST! The education that I am getting is just as good as someone graduating from an ivy league college. I will forever love that I graduated from such a great school.
ReplyDeleteI love Southeastern! I wouldn't go to any other university. I enjoy the class sizes, campus life, lower tuition, and of course the text book rental. Southeasterns campus is located near my family, which is a plus!
ReplyDeleteI love Southeastern but I especially love that I have TOPS and haven't had to pay tuition yet.
ReplyDeleteI love southeastern even with the increase in tuition it is still the cheapest among many other schools. There are also many types of scholarship and weaver that student can benefit from.
ReplyDeleteI am very grateful that Southeastern does try their best to keep the tuition, fees, textbooks, and supplies at a reasonable price The low cost is one of the many reasons I choose this institute along with what I had heard about them having good professors. . I have been pleased with the university and how they run the campus.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first signed up for southeastern it was so that I could live at home and attend college. Now I am super proud to be a Selu student, every one I know who goes to lsu says they hate it. Teachers don't care, they have 300+ students in one class, and a more personal student teacher relationship is out of the question.
ReplyDeleteI switched from LSU to SELU because of this reason. The amount of college tuition is just asinine now.
ReplyDeleteAlthough tuition has increased SLU it is still a Bargain!! the textbook rental is a sure give away for us!
ReplyDeleteI think the tuition is better than some universities, but I know I could purchase a Lexus all the money I came out of pocket, not a Hyundai. I switch degrees twice and never got any really financial aid. So, If Southeastern is a bargain I definitely missed out.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is a great value. I don't have a big problem with the increase in tuition because I feel that the professors are worth more than what they are currently earning. However, I know that it is very unlikely that anyone will see a pay increase. I am more concerned with all of the fees that are charged for clubs and such that no one I know of is involved with.
ReplyDeleteMy reason for choosing southeasten is not a good one. It was a simple choice my girlfriend at the time was going here so this was the only one i applied to and shortly after class started she dumped me and i was stuck here. I am not complaining though i like it here but if i could choose again i would go to LSU for the football.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that Southeastern's tuition is reasonable compared to other colleges. At one time I thought about transferring to LSU, but when I found out how much tuition was I decided to stay.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern have always been less compared to other institutions. The school gives a great education for a price you cannot beat. The low tuitions, along with the great accreditations, and textbook rental system have always been a great deal, and that is why our school have so many commuters.
ReplyDeleteI have went to 2 different colleges before coming to Southeastern and I must say that it is a blessing to have such an affordable tuition while still having an excelent level of education. Just the savings in books should be enough but the extra saving in tuition compared to most places in and out of state is great.
ReplyDeleteI like all of the people that comment on LSU about being "just a number." Too often people get caught up in a name. Yes, LSU I'm sure has an amazing academic program, but really what are you paying so much money for? A name? Is an LSU MBA more prestigious than a SLU MBA? I don't think so. The old saying goes, what do you call a student who graduates last in medical school? Doctor. We, SLU, are often looked at as being at the bottom of the academic/athletic food chain. But why? Because we switched around our first two letters? I am more than satisfied with my experience here. I would come back in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is such an amazing school for way less money. It is the reason I chose to come here, and I am so glad that I did.
ReplyDeleteI believe by far Southeastern in the greatest university. It has lower tuition, book rental system and much more. The classes are much smaller than other universities so you feel much more 1 on 1 with your teacher. Going to Southeastern was a great choice.
ReplyDeleteI Really never thought about how much cheaper Southeastern is compared to other schools in state and out of state, it really is nice to see that i am getting a good education at a smaller cost than some.
ReplyDeleteI am defiantly very happy with the amount of tuition that I pay, Southeastern is an affordable education that is of good quality. Plus I am about to graduate with no debt, which I think is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI chose southeastern, because they offered me the most money to come here. I make money (a couple grand) to come to school. I did it all by scholarships I earned.
ReplyDeleteSoutheastern is compared to other schools in state and out of state, it really is nice to see that i am getting a good education as a international school.
ReplyDeleteI too am glad this was posted. An interesting read. I am very happy I go to Southeastern, I switched from LSU mainly because of care southeastern teachers have for their students. LSUs teachers care as well but you have to go out on a limb to get it touch with them and just makes things more difficult. Also as long as i get my degree it matters very little when applying for jobs. A univeristy degree is a university degree..
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