Differential Tuition Is Popular. But Is It Equitable? Johanna Alonso, Inside Higher Ed The practice of differential tuition—requiring students in different classes, majors, or academic years to pay more than baseline tuition—isn’t widely known. But it is a popular strategy for colleges nationwide to offset the costs of majors that require, say, specialized equipment, advanced labs, or higher-than-average salaries for professors.
Despite its popularity, differential tuition has its critics. Some cite concerns about equity, worrying that the higher tuition prices can lock low-income students out of majors that typically lead to higher-paying careers. |