As two different schools under the same state system, Penn State and Pitt are subject to… As two different schools under the same state system, Penn State and Pitt are subject to similar financial stress. If one changes the tuition, it’s a safe bet that the other will follow suit. So now that Penn State has released its appropriation request for the 2003-2004 school year, Pitt students should be taking careful notice. Among the many numbers discussed in that document is a tuition increase of 6.5 percent effective next fall. It’s a figure that is hitting University Park today, and it will probably hit Oakland before August.

On July 15, 2002, Pitt’s Board of Trustees caught most people off guard by voting to raise tuition an incredible 14 percent for in-state students. With barely a month before the the fall term began, students were left with virtually no time to prepare for the new financial burden. The proposed increase at Penn State is brutal – especially on top of their 13.5 percent increase last year – but at least the administration is letting the students know well in advance.

When renting an apartment, the tenant knows how much the price will be before the lease is signed. It would be insane to make such a life-changing decision without first knowing how much it will cost. Pitt’s financial situation presents the same scenario, and the students must insist on protecting their rights while keeping education affordable.

Students are the consumers of the college system. They deserve to be well-informed in order to make the right choice. If Pitt is going to hit the student body with another major tuition increase next fall, they need to go public with it now so students can prepare. Many struggle with money, and a higher price may force them to reconsider loans, financial aid or even transferring.

Pennsylvania – along with the rest of the country – has certainly seen better days economically. It is understandable that schools will have to raise prices when the state freezes spending, but they must remain accountable to the students. The administration at Penn State has been very straightforward in explaining its proposal and plans for the future. The authorities at Pitt should do the same, and do it well before the summer.