College tuition increases again.

The Citizen had a great article on the upcoming college tuition increases in the area. but first:

A bit of history

Prior to 2003, the Texas Legislature had the regulatory authority to set tuition rates, generally mandating that the same statutory and designated tuition rate be charged across the state. In 2003 the 78th Legislature passed HB 3015, amending TEC §54.0513 to allow governing boards of public universities to set different designated tuition rates. There is no upper limit on the amount of designated tuition that a university may charge and the amounts may vary by program, course level, and academic period. Tuition deregulation became effective September 1, 2003, and universities began increasing designated tuition in spring 2004

The results? (based on 2007 rates)
In short, we got screwed with deregulation again. In the same year they completed deregulation of electricity and insurance and instead of our rates decreasing because of less regulation and competition in the free market, our rates have soared.

Since deregulation passed in 2003, UT-Austin has seen its tuition and fees rise by 63 percent for an in-state undergraduate. The university ranks ninth in cost out of 12 large public universities to which it compares itself. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked first, costing $11,130.

Lack of action
In the 2009 legislation session a number of bills were filed to finally address this mistake. One would have frozen tuition rates and another would have limited any increase to not more than 5% (which meant a 5% increase each year). None passed. So the increases continue:

• The University of Texas-Austin recently approved a 4.95 percent rise, increasing an undergraduate student’s costs by $202.
• Texas A&M-College Station approved a 4.14 percent increase (a $166 addition).
• The University of North Texas-Denton approved a 7 percent increase ($226).
• At the University of Houston, where tuition and fee rates were raised 3.95 percent, an in-state undergraduate student taking 12 credit hours will pay approximately $131 more per semester.
• At UH-Clear Lake, which saw a 3.30 percent rise, a comparable student will pay $80 more.
• At UH-Downtown, rates were increased 4.8 percent, costing $101 more.
• At UH-Victoria, the increase was 3.4 percent, costing $72 more.

But don't complain. The lack of action on the part of our elected officials is overwhelmed by the lack of action of those who voted for them. In short, we suck.