Syracuse University will soon be one of the most expensive schools in the United States, and The Daily Orange Editorial Board isn’t convinced the costs will be worth the experience.

SU will join the ranks of Ivy League schools, including Brown University and Columbia University, with a total cost of attendance surpassing $70,000 for the 2018-19 academic year. SU’s Invest Syracuse initiative, a five-year program that introduces a $3,300 tuition premium for incoming first-year and transfer students, largely contributes to the increase.

Invest Syracuse is designed to improve the student experience, but exactly for who, when and in what capacities are still unclear. The campus community sees SU’s vision for the future in the forms of construction on Waverly Avenue to the implementation of the Academic Strategic Plan. But the current student experience isn’t worth this steep attendance cost increase, especially when areas including mental health resources still lack necessary support.

If SU is committed to diversifying its student body and improving the quality of campus life, it’s crucial for the administration to consider the implications a tuition hike has on accessibility for applicants from an array of backgrounds. While Invest Syracuse has pledged $40 million toward undergraduate scholarships funds and financial aid, SU should continually look at its net tuition price to ensure these costs don’t impede students from applying or committing.

SU isn’t alone in its inflated costs. Cornell University, the University of Rochester and Boston College are reporting higher costs as well. But private universities are exacerbating a problem that could have consequences for the accessibility of these institutions.

SU set a record last fall for the highest number of applications in its history, collecting more than 34,000. The interest in attending SU is strong, but it’s important the university’s total cost keeps prospective students’ aspirations tangible.

When investing in student education, the administrators who make decisions about attendance costs must remember that the experience of SU’s current students matters just as much as those who will attend the university in the future.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here. Are you interested in pitching a topic for the editorial board to discuss? Email opinion@dailyorange.com.

Published on March 21, 2018 at 12:01 am

Contact: opinion@dailyorange.com