Why Does College Cost so Much?

By Richard Vedder & Matthew Denhart

College costs too much, both for students and for society as a whole.

This year, according to the College Board, average published in-state tuition and fee plus room/board charges exceed $17,000 at four-year public institutions, a 6% increase from only one year earlier.

In 2009, spending by Americans for post-secondary education totaled $461 billion, an amount 42% greater than in 2000, after accounting for inflation. This $461 billion is the equivalent of 3.3% of total U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and an amount greater than the total GDP of countries such as Sweden, Norway and Portugal.

Continued at: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/opinion/vedder-college-costs/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Online Learning Keeps Evolving

By Elizabeth Tice

Driven by student demand, technology, a troubled economy and roiling demographic changes, the continued growth of online and distance learning has become a force that is not only forever changing how education is delivered but will also drive economic change by preparing today’s workers for the technology-based jobs of tomorrow.

The rapid adoption and expansion of online education is closely tied to the growth of technology, the Internet and other new ways of delivering knowledge to more students beyond the previous boundaries of place, time and expense. Pioneers in online education were the early adopters of new digital technology. They created curriculum and delivery methods to meet the needs of working adults and other students who wanted to learn but needed access to education that was available on more flexible schedules.

Continued at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/03/online-learning-keeps-evolving/