Contributor Matt Appleman sheds light on college funding in the great state of Texas.
In February 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry challenged the state’s colleges to offer a four-year degree plan for just $10,000. Yes, it is $10,000 for a four-year degree, not $10,000 per year. Few people took it seriously. Who would? In fact, I was highly skeptical myself. But believe it or not, thirteen colleges in Texas have adopted some type of 10K program. Here is the list:
1. Angelo State University
2. Sul Ross State University
3. Tarleton State University
4. Texas A&M International University
5. Texas A&M University-Commerce
6. Texas A&M University-San Antonio
7. Texas A&M University-Texarkana
8. University of Houston-Clear Lake
9. University of Houston-Downtown
10. University of Houston-Victoria
11. University of Texas-Arlington
12. University of Texas-Brownsville
13. University of Texas-Permian Basin
Each one of these 10K programs is different and unique in their own ways. Six of these colleges include all 120 credits in the sticker price. UH-Clear Lake offers seventy-five hours at a community college (included in their sticker price) and 45 hours at their campus for a bachelor degree in early childhood education, health care services, or IT. UH-Downtown offers the same 75/45 deal for applied arts, applied administration, and some interdisciplinary studies. Angelo State and UH-Victoria offer special scholarship programs for the best applicants who apply. UT-Permian Basin offers a special scholarship program for degrees in chemistry, computer science, geology, information systems, or math. A&M Commerce offers online degrees that range from $5,000 to $14,000. The other seven colleges offer a $10,000 program only after they earn a certain amount of credits from community colleges and AP classes from high schools. In some of these cases, students will have to pay for $10,000 plus the cost for community college. But considering how inexpensive they are, obtaining a four-year degree would still be very inexpensive and should not exceed $20,000. Considering the fact that most four-year degrees are over $10,000 in one year alone, those thirteen colleges are offering some pretty good deals. It is far from perfect but you must give Governor Perry kudos for trying to help us out.
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