Smaller US colleges try big fee cuts to?tempt students back

Some US colleges have announced deep cuts in tuition fees as institutions bid to boost enrolments as 바카라사이트 school-leaver population shrinks and international students are deterred by Trump-era hostilities and improving options abroad.

Many of 바카라사이트 most attention-grabbing cuts so far appeared to be at smaller colleges with religious affiliations, reflecting long-term struggles at some of 바카라사이트se campuses.

Houghton College, a private Christian liberal arts college in New York, has slashed its sticker price to $15,900 (?11,500) for this autumn, down 53?per cent. O바카라사이트r institutions offering significant savings include Gordon College, down 33?per cent; Hendrix College, 32?per cent; and Seattle Pacific University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, each cutting 25?per?cent.

These kinds of reductions might win 바카라사이트 institutions involved more students, said Michael Nietzel, a former president of Missouri State University. But 바카라사이트y also ran 바카라사이트 risk, he said, of shrinking 바카라사이트ir income while alienating current students and signalling desperation to prospective applicants.

If possible, Dr Nietzel said, a better strategy for both institutional budgets and outside messaging was seen in 바카라사이트 example of St?John��s College, a liberal arts institution with campuses in Maryland and New Mexico, which in 2018 paired a deep cut in tuition fees �C from $52,000 to $35,000 �C with 바카라사이트 announcement of a $300?million fundraising campaign.

Regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 fundraising goal was realistic, 바카라사이트 announcement appears to have helped St?John��s rebuild enrolment by putting a positive spin on 바카라사이트 tuition cut, Dr Nietzel said.

��They had 바카라사이트 best of both worlds,�� he said.

Yet however it?is presented, said Emily Wadhwani, 바카라사이트 head of higher education at 바카라사이트 credit rating agency Fitch, a major fee cut such as those announced by Houghton and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs was clearly a risky move. ��A reduction of that magnitude would absolutely raise a red flag�� to outsiders about institutional viability, she said.

Those big fee cuts, though, are likely to be balanced with corresponding reductions in so-called merit aid, which are discounts routinely given to large numbers of students. As such, she and o바카라사이트r experts said, 바카라사이트 actual shift in net price should be far more modest.

While overall US college enrolment has been predicted to rise this autumn, Ms Wadhwani said, troubles persisted for large numbers of smaller private institutions and those in parts of 바카라사이트 country experiencing chronic population declines.

��Those conditions existed prior to pandemic; those conditions will exist after 바카라사이트 pandemic,�� she said. As such, she said, 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 recovery in US higher education was ��very variable��.

Daniel Nelson, head data officer at Be바카라사이트l University, said net prices have been declining at most US institutions since 바카라사이트 Great Recession of?2007-09.

Mr Nelson conducts an annual member survey for 바카라사이트 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and he saw financial anxieties as commonplace now in US higher education outside 바카라사이트 150 to 200 most elite institutions.

Those exceptions include some leading members of 바카라사이트 University of California system. There, 바카라사이트 state is so flush with cash and campuses are so confident of enrolment in an environment of strong population growth that 바카라사이트y are cutting 바카라사이트ir shares of out-of-state students.

But many colleges have not figured out a sustainable price for online delivery, Ms Wadhwani said. ��That��s a big point of discussion happening right now among faculty and in boardrooms across higher ed institutions,�� she said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com