DENNIS HOUSE: How we have shortchanged college students

I started college 50 years ago this fall. Two weeks ago, I was at a college reunion and we were talking about the good ole days and a friend of mine said he went to college for a $1,000 a year, including spending money.

This seemed really low, but when I returned home, I checked it out and he was right.

My total cost for a year of college was about $750 including: tuition, books, room and board which would have left about $250.00 spending money.

I went to my college website and the cost to attend this year was $19,292, which included the same figures as my $750.

When I graduated from college, my first job paid $750 per month or the cost of one year of college.

Today, I do not believe anyone is getting out of college and making $19,000 per month.

When I was in college, the state paid most of the cost and the student paid very little.

Today, a big portion is paid by the student. Rather than raise taxes or cut other programs, the state chose to pass the cost on to students.

Of course, what the politicians did not tell you is they raised your taxes indirectly not directly.

DENNIS HOUSE

Biloxi

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 5:23 PM with the headline "DENNIS HOUSE: How we have shortchanged college students ."