Hitting the price ceiling

0 Comments | Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), November, 2004

Byline: The Register-Guard

Fifteen years ago, a freshman enrolling at the University of Oregon faced the prospect of paying $1,554 in tuition for three academic quarters. Then in 1990, Oregonians approved Ballot Measure 5, a property tax limitation that made the state responsible for funding local schools.

The added responsibility has squeezed state budgets ever since, particularly for higher education. Universities have responded by raising tuition; this year a freshman taking an average 15-credit-hour load for three quarters would pay $5,079.

That's a 227 percent tuition increase over 15 years. And tuition isn't the whole story.

In 1989-90, students paid a quarterly $36 health service fee, $70 in incidental fees to support student...