Universities Weblog

(Source: Princeton University)

More "big news" from Princeton: The University announced it will not raise tuition for next year. Yippee.

Princeton must love headlines. It dropped early decision. It eliminated loans for low-income students, giving them full rides and erasing debt. Now it freezes tuition. Will any of this change the complexion of Princeton's student body?

Not likely. Sure, a few more low-income kids might be able to attend. But keep in mind a high number of Princeton students–46 percent–don't even apply for aid; they don't need it. Ironically, this latest move might affect the wealthy more directly–those paying full tuition won't incur a cost increase. Despite these policy maneuvers, Princeton won't resemble Rutgers anytime soon.

Here's more from the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Princeton University announced on Sunday that for the first time in 40 years, it would not raise tuition for the next academic year, a move that will put pressure on other highly selective institutions to hold down their own cost of attending.

Tuition for undergraduate study at Princeton in the 2007-8 academic year will remain at $33,000 under an operating budget approved by the university's trustees on Sunday. The overall cost of attending will rise 4.2 percent over this year, to $43,980, because the university will raise fees for room and board. Still, the decision to hold the line on tuition was seen as significant by higher-education experts.

High-tuition institutions have for years used tuition dollars in a "redistributive manner" to provide financial aid to needy students, said David Ward, president of the American Council on Education. Freezing tuition, he said, "allows everyone who is coming to benefit."

Princeton's decision is likely to prompt its Ivy League peers and other selective public and private colleges to consider similar action, if they can afford it. "Each institution will have to look at their own resources," said Mr. Ward, but "those that are well resourced will look at this very carefully."

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