© Matson
Currently, public universities in America are funded in a number of ways: government subsidies, research grants, donations, sponsorships, and, of course, tuition and fee payments. When debating cost-cutting measures, many propose lowering tuition. Typically, ancillary costs - such as the amount of fees students must pay on top of tuition - are ignored.
But according to the Center for College Affordability and Productivity these fees are increasing at rate 13% higher than tuition.
Often the breakdown of these fees (which, at public institutions, can run, on average, an extra $2,000-5,000 per year), is not specific or transparent to the student. Factor in future interest payments for students who are using loans to pay for college, and the costs of these fees to the student can be much higher.
What do these fees fund? Generally, they're allocated to eight specific areas: health services, student social centers, debt service on student administration and social centers (such as a student union), student government and publications, recreation, cultural programs, and intercollegiate athletics.
By far, the largest student fee is the last - the intercollegiate athletic fee - which can be upwards of 80% of the total fee amount at many institutions not in Power Five conferences.
Comment: This is a question that all parents and students who are planning for a college education need to ask. Student debt has financially crippled many households and many people are still paying these loans even into their senior years. All of these students are forced into subsidizing the generally unlikely possibility of professional careers for a few athletes.
One other issue to consider is how athletic programs may foster a culture of aggression on high school and college campuses. Incidents such as rape are becoming increasingly common and in many cases are excused when they involve athletes.