I agree with Roy’s comments regarding subsidizing college students. Some argue that the reason taxpayers, not students, pay the vast majority of a student’s cost of education is that college educated students contribute to the state’s economic prosperity. Therefore, taxpayers receive benefits from living in a more prosperous state.
I am not aware of the studies that prove or disprove that claim, but for the sake of argument, let’s assume it is true. It would seem that many students take advantage of the taxpayer subsidy and then secure employment out of state, leaving the NC taxpayers holding the bag.
It would also seem that justice demands that students and taxpayers should arrive at a bargain. Students receive a subsidy and if they stay in the state for a certain number of years, say five, the debt is forgiven. If they move out of state they must pay it back. This policy would also cause students to be more serious about their majors and may cause marginal students to learn a trade rather than attend college.
One additional comment that most students, faculty and administrators at public universities rarely recognize is that most public universities produce a regressive result. The average income level of college student’s family is above the average income level of the taxpayers paying the bills, resulting in a transfer of wealth from poorer to richer families.
