New Study Questions North Carolina's Higher Education System

The Center for College Affordability and Productivity releases a new study which questions several financial aspects of North Carolina's higher education system. The study found that, despite spending millions of dollars in taxpayer money, few high school students in the state actually graduate for college and those that do face higher student loan debt than before. The report makes several recommendations and suggestions on ways to make the state's higher education system more affordable, efficient, and accountable.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 20, 2008

The Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP), a higher education think tank based in Washington, DC, has released a new study comprehensively examining North Carolina's higher education system, concluding that the Tar Heel state might not be getting much for its money in higher education and that the money itself is not being spent wisely.

The report, "North Carolina's Higher Education System: Success or Failure?" draws upon data from the Department of Education, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other education sources to assess North Carolina's colleges and universities. While North Carolina spends over $7,000 per student for higher education, far above the national average, the report's findings strongly suggest that the state is still lagging on many key higher education indicators. For example:

• Despite spending 6.7 percent of the state budget on higher education, only 18.6 percent of high school freshmen eventually earn a college degree.
• As of 2006, only 25.6 percent of the state's population had obtained a bachelor's degree--below the national average of 27.2 percent and the rates of nearby states such as Virginia (32.1 percent) and Georgia (28.1 percent).
• Even after accounting for increased financial aid, between 2000 and 2004 the average annual financial burden for students has increased by $760 at four-year public schools and by $1,364 at four-year private schools.
• Most of the increased funding is not going to the core purpose of college: student instruction. Many schools only spend 20 to 40 percent of their revenue on instruction. Only a few community colleges spend 50 percent on this important function.

The study's authors Dr. Richard Vedder, CCAP Director, and Andrew Gillen, CCAP Director of Research, said that the report raises serious questions about North Carolina's higher education system.

"The objective data raises many important questions. Where exactly is all of the money going? It's clear that the majority of students are not graduating college. The students that do graduate are doing so with even greater debt loads, despite increased subsidies from the state," Vedder and Gillen said.

The researchers also lambasted North Carolina colleges for straying from their core mission of student instruction.

"Many schools are spending paltry amounts of money on what should be their highest priority: student instruction. While support services and academic research are important, they should not replace the core function of a college or university. Unfortunately, it seems that North Carolina's schools have forgotten about actually teaching students," Vedder and Gillen added.

The authors strongly suggest that North Carolina's higher education leaders, government officials, and business community should join together and examine ways to improve the state higher education system.

"Instead of just lavishing more taxpayer subsidies on North Carolina's universities, we should take a step back and analyze what has gone wrong. We need to concentrate on fundamental reforms that will make North Carolina's colleges and universities more affordable, accountable, and efficient. Simply forking over more taxpayer dollars will not magically solve any of the problems we outline in this report," Vedder and Gillen added.    

The report can be downloaded from the CCAP website at: http://www.collegeaffordability.net. A printed version of the report can be obtained by calling CCAP offices at 202-375-7831.

Dr. Vedder and Mr. Gillen are also available for media interviews about this report and its findings. To schedule an interview, please contact CCAP at 202-375-7831.

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