A July 1996 public opinion poll shows that Americans, particularly those likely to have children reaching college age, sharply overestimate the cost of a college education. As a result, some may not explore financing possibilities further. College officials must be more direct with the public about the economic realities of higher education. (MSE)

According to a recent study of 150 leading private colleges and universities, raising tuition/fees faster than the growth of family income is self-defeating. It forces institutions to divert some new revenue into financial aid, narrows the applicant pool, and undermines the social contract supporting need-based aid. (MSE)

The potential for conflict of interest in college and university trustees is high. A 1974 court decision (Stern vs. Sibley Memorial Hospital) established guidelines for trustees of nonprofit organizations, and a survey of 566 colleges and universities reveals how institutions are managing such conflicts through policy statements and…

The top institutional priorities in higher education for 1993, as revealed in a survey of college trustees, presidents, and other educators, are tuition policy and financing; productivity and cost control; capital renewal and replacement; planning and budgeting; and funding of research and indirect-cost issues. (MSE)