“Rick Perry’s Plan: $10,000 for a B.A.”

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber should steal an idea from Texas Governor Rick Perry (not something I'd generally recommend).  Governor Perry has proposed that higher ed in Texas develop a B.A. degree program costing $10,000, or $$2,500 per year. From the NY Times Room for Debate article “Rick Perry’s Plan: $10,000 for a B.A.” (here):

As Rick Perry becomes the candidate to beat in the Republican presidential field, his public policy ideas are being examined, including his call for substantially reducing the costs of higher education. He asked Texas's top colleges to come up with a program that costs no more than $10,000 for four years of tuition, fees and textbooks. Community colleges and online instruction would be part of the low-cost programs, which Mr. Perry said could eventually account for at least 10 percent of degrees conferred. His critics say his plan is a politician's ploy of offering something for nothing.

The NY Times published twelve brief responses to Perry’s proposal. From one of them, “The Coming Tuition Price War” by Jane S. Shaw (here):

Although faculty members may shudder at the thought of a $10,000 degree, they should understand that Governor Perry is merely anticipating changes that are almost inevitable in higher education. When students and their parents conclude that the price of education is higher than its rewards, they will stay away, and the college “bubble” will burst. A tuition price war is the likely result, and Perry wants Texas to be ready.

With tuition rising much faster than inflation, the dream of a college education is becoming more difficult to realize. We hear of graduates carrying $100,000 or more in debt and able to get only low-paying jobs. Taxpayers help through state subsidies and federal grants and loans — but given today’s economy, how long can that last?
Thus, education is going to get cheaper.

Already, online education is bringing lower-priced education. Western Governors University, for example, lets students take as many courses as they want for a flat $6,000 a year, and they can get credit by passing “competency” exams based on experience. At online StraighterLine, students can take basic college courses for $99 a month plus $39 per course and transfer the credits…..