Tuition breaks the bank
Forbes: Kenyon second most expensive college in U.S.
Sarah Friedman
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: News
For example, according to Nugent, the current formula was developed "before the ubiquity of computers," so tuition pays for the "major expense" of IT when it is in fact largely a room and board-related cost. Tuition also covers AVI's expensive local foods effort; at other colleges, most of which have specific meal plans, food costs would clearly fall under the category of room and board.
How can students pay?
"Every Kenyon student is coming at a discount," said Delahunty. Even students paying full tuition and fees only pay about 76 percent of their total cost each academic year, she said. The other 24 percent of the College's annual operating budget comes from 4.5 percent interest on its endowment, gifts from alumni and revenues from conference fees.
According to Delahunty, at $200 million, the College's endowment is about the 49th largest in the nation. "It's like we're [a] different species" from schools with larger endowments, she said. Harvard University's endowment, for example, is $34.6 billion. An endowment is "the greatest guarantee of cost control and accessibility, and it's our biggest vulnerability," she said. The "We Are Kenyon" campaign is intended to increase the College's endowment.
There is no way of knowing, however, how underprivileged potential applicants will react to Kenyon's ranking.
"You potentially have people making a decision in advance that is based on false information," said Dean of Students Tammy Gocial.
For the College's tuition "to be that high and to be sort of notable is challenging because people have to look at that number in comparison with their personal circumstances," said Gocial. "If you never apply because you think it's too expensive, then we miss out on students we would love to have."
"We still get students from every possible socioeconomic background applying to Kenyon," even though it appears on the Forbes list every year, said Delahunty. "It's daunting and discouraging information, but our job as educators is to let people know it's still affordable" because of financial aid.
How can students pay?
"Every Kenyon student is coming at a discount," said Delahunty. Even students paying full tuition and fees only pay about 76 percent of their total cost each academic year, she said. The other 24 percent of the College's annual operating budget comes from 4.5 percent interest on its endowment, gifts from alumni and revenues from conference fees.
According to Delahunty, at $200 million, the College's endowment is about the 49th largest in the nation. "It's like we're [a] different species" from schools with larger endowments, she said. Harvard University's endowment, for example, is $34.6 billion. An endowment is "the greatest guarantee of cost control and accessibility, and it's our biggest vulnerability," she said. The "We Are Kenyon" campaign is intended to increase the College's endowment.
There is no way of knowing, however, how underprivileged potential applicants will react to Kenyon's ranking.
"You potentially have people making a decision in advance that is based on false information," said Dean of Students Tammy Gocial.
For the College's tuition "to be that high and to be sort of notable is challenging because people have to look at that number in comparison with their personal circumstances," said Gocial. "If you never apply because you think it's too expensive, then we miss out on students we would love to have."
"We still get students from every possible socioeconomic background applying to Kenyon," even though it appears on the Forbes list every year, said Delahunty. "It's daunting and discouraging information, but our job as educators is to let people know it's still affordable" because of financial aid.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Buy essay
posted 10/21/09 @ 7:04 AM EST
Great news I must say!
Sociology Thesis Help
posted 10/22/09 @ 7:28 AM EST
"Our tuition is higher and our room and board is lower, but our comprehensive fee is nowhere near the second most expensive in the country," totally agree!
Laslo Truth
posted 10/24/09 @ 12:07 AM EST
Those are apples and those are oranges. Jesus Christ!!! Kenyon is expensive and thatfolks is one of the reason it is so attractive to the mostly elitist population it serves. (Continued…)
Post a Comment