University of Louisiana Rated Most Affordable in State

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA - The University of Louisiana is the most affordable university in Louisiana, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency List released this week.

In addition to leading Louisiana as the university with the lowest average net price to attend, UL is among the top 10 percent of most affordable four-year public universities in the United States.

"Providing a high-quality education at a very reasonable rate for our students has always been a hallmark of UL." said Dr. Joseph Savoie, president of the university. "We continue to face budget challenges and increasing costs, yet never lose sight that access for our students to achieve a higher education is important to their livelihoods and families, as well as the economic future of our state."

The 2009-10 annual net price to attend UL was $5,129, with 84 percent of students receiving grants or scholarships. The UL net price is 18 percent more affordable than the next lowest price to attend a Louisiana university.

Data used by the U.S. Department of Education was reported by institutions for full-time, beginning undergraduate students. The average net price was generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grants or scholarships from the total cost of attendance.

This is the second year the Department of Education published the College Affordability and Transparency List. In a department release, Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated, “Students need to know up front how much college will actually cost them instead of waiting to find out when the first student loan bill arrives. These lists are a major step forward in unraveling the mystery of higher education pricing.”

UL PRess

[VObserver]

LOUISIANA - The University of Louisiana is the most affordable university in Louisiana, according to the U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency List released this week.

In addition to leading Louisiana as the university with the lowest average net price to attend, UL is among the top 10 percent of most affordable four-year public universities in the United States.

"Providing a high-quality education at a very reasonable rate for our students has always been a hallmark of UL." said Dr. Joseph Savoie, president of the university. "We continue to face budget challenges and increasing costs, yet never lose sight that access for our students to achieve a higher education is important to their livelihoods and families, as well as the economic future of our state."

The 2009-10 annual net price to attend UL was $5,129, with 84 percent of students receiving grants or scholarships. The UL net price is 18 percent more affordable than the next lowest price to attend a Louisiana university.

Data used by the U.S. Department of Education was reported by institutions for full-time, beginning undergraduate students. The average net price was generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grants or scholarships from the total cost of attendance.

This is the second year the Department of Education published the College Affordability and Transparency List. In a department release, Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated, "Students need to know up front how much college will actually cost them instead of waiting to find out when the first student loan bill arrives. These lists are a major step forward in unraveling the mystery of higher education pricing."

UL PRess

This entire article is totally disgusting. The thought that we are cheaper than everyone else and that that is considered a GOOD thing makes me want to puke.

No one is entitled to a free or cheap college education. As an alumnus, I am disgusted that my alma mater thinks so little of itself that it values its product right there with the product from Nicholls or McNeese.

[sarcasm on] Yeah, THAT makes me proud. [sarcasm off]

[CajunNation]

Agreed.

[wgwillis]

This entire article is totally disgusting. The thought that we are cheaper than everyone else and that that is considered a GOOD thing makes me want to puke.

No one is entitled to a free or cheap college education. As an alumnus, I am disgusted that my alma mater thinks so little of itself that it values its product right there with the product from Nicholls or McNeese.

[sarcasm on] Yeah, THAT makes me proud. [sarcasm off]

I couldn't disagree more! Just because we are not snobs and try to rape our students with high fees hardly makes us cheap. It is the Christian thing to do.

Geaux Cajuns!!!!

[VObserver]

I couldn't disagree more! Just because we are not snobs and try to rape our students with high fees hardly makes us cheap. It is the Christian thing to do.

Geaux Cajuns!!!!

Charging a reasonable price for your product is neither snobbish nor raping your customer.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I couldn't disagree more! Just because we are not snobs and try to rape our students with high fees hardly makes us cheap. It is the Christian thing to do.

Geaux Cajuns!!!!

IMO selling your product at a bargin price neither makes you good christian nor a good chirstian steward. The univesity should be priced for what it delivers, the ability of it's general population to afford it, and to improve the university so that the degree becomes more valuable over time.

UL should be priced in the same neighborhood with LTU, and UNO but slightly more, our population is wealthier than the folks around New Orleans, MoanRow,Ruston, and North Louisiana in general. The cost of tuition at UL for almost every student is covered by TOPS, and I see no reason TOPS for LTU, and UNO should crate better support for their students than UL.

[CajunT]

I couldn't disagree more! Just because we are not snobs and try to rape our students with high fees hardly makes us cheap. It is the Christian thing to do.

Geaux Cajuns!!!!

Then the Christian thing to do would be to set up scholarship funds for those that are historically at a disadvantage for financial reasons from a charity or one's estate. Should they meet the standards, TOP's is in place as well.

[Duggie35]

Now that we know what a bargin it is to attend UL, it should be a no brainer to add a $10.00 to $15.00 per credit hour fee to each student for athletics!!! What a great deal. Get a great education for a great price and for just a few dollars more they also will a great athletic department to go with it!!! Does life get any better!!! LOL!!!

[CajunEXPRESS]

Then the Christian thing to do would be to set up scholarship funds for those that are historically at a disadvantage for financial reasons from a charity or one's estate. Should they meet the standards, TOP's is in place as well.

If they do not meet TOPS they would then be at the juco for a couple of years to get their remedial and first and second year courses. That should be the option for those less fortunate, and less prepared to compete at UL.

[Turbine]

This ranking is another way of saying UL gets less funds -from the State- per student than any other insitution in the State.

It has been this way since at least the 1940's

[CajunEXPRESS]

Can you show some evidence of your evaluation Trub?

I think you will have an awful hard job. You have to evaluate the entire package.

Here is the offical budgets for the ULS. You will need to figure students, post graduate programs, and so much more before you can even begain to make an intelligent comment about the state giving UL the smallest amount of money.

http://www.ulsystem.net/assets/docs/...0-%20Final.pdf

Now local politians for decades have used UL, USL, and SLI as a political football. I recall the New Iberia guy who would not let USL raise it's tuition because it just was not right, while everybody else was raising thiers.

[wgwillis]

OK, I give - Why do we have a Dean of Students for Greek Affairs??? Do we have a large population of Greeks at UL???? Is this our contribution to Greek Austerity?