I’m not kidding.

They also have cafeteria menus and campus maps that are actually flat screen televisions…but that is another story.

One of the themes of Carey’s piece is that even if traditional higher ed institutions capture efficiency gains, that they have no intention of passing them on to students in the form of lower tuition, or even a slower rate of increase. Given that higher education cost inflation has been outpacing health care inflation, it is an assertion that rings true to me.

I think Matt’s point was that universities were jacking up tuition despite finding methods that should reduce their costs.

I fear that the inefficiency in higher ed would make K-12 look like kid stuff, which I guess it is. And unlike Matt I don’t see a reckoning anytime soon, for K-12 or for higher ed. As long as taxing power still exists, the gravy train isn’t likely to be stopped. And I’m glad I’m aboard. : )

It’s too easy and simplistic to make the claim that online education delivery allows universities to “jack up tuition.” Your comment leaves the impression that distance ed programs make money hand over fist for institutions.

It is true that distance education can be an income stream, but it’s certainly no golden goose as you seem to imply. The costs of high-quality online delivery programs are surprisingly high – closer to bricks-and-mortar programs than many educators realize.

Having produced business plans for distance education programs for a number of universities, I can tell you that many administrators are surprised by the investment required for online education and support.