We can all agree with President Eisgruber ’83 that “Princetonians know the value of a college degree,” and we are eager to share that truth. The contention that the cost of a college degree is going down, however, is not supported by the facts. Mr. Eisgruber appears to be saying that the level of aid received by Princeton students has kept up with the rising costs, indeed a tribute to strong alumni support. The facts suggest that due to the increased rate of inflation over the last five years, college tuition has not outpaced inflation for a change. To suggest the cost is now “going down” and that the dramatic increase in the cost of higher education over the past four decades has not been astronomical is telling a “story” and not the truth.
We can all agree with President Eisgruber ’83 that “Princetonians know the value of a college degree,” and we are eager to share that truth. The contention that the cost of a college degree is going down, however, is not supported by the facts. Mr. Eisgruber appears to be saying that the level of aid received by Princeton students has kept up with the rising costs, indeed a tribute to strong alumni support. The facts suggest that due to the increased rate of inflation over the last five years, college tuition has not outpaced inflation for a change. To suggest the cost is now “going down” and that the dramatic increase in the cost of higher education over the past four decades has not been astronomical is telling a “story” and not the truth.