It's not just the climbing walls and the salaries for star professors driving up the cost of college. In some cases, costs go up because the culture and management of traditional institutions are simply not structured to promote efficiency and savings. At for-profit colleges, it's a different story. There, the "incentives to save money are…

The pressures on community colleges have mounted for years; they must balance: competition from the growing for-profit-education industry, demands from lawmakers for more accountability, and the shifting needs of an increasingly complex student body. Most recently, intense financial pressure has been added to the mix as states once again face…

A trend away from state support of university research with commercial potential is noted, because of state budget restraints, changes in political leadership, and the belief that support of university research is not an efficient way to help businesses and create jobs. Cuts in specific programs in Virginia, Illinois, Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska…

Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York face giant deficits in their state budgets. The financial impact of the 1986 federal tax reform law was underestimated by colleges and income estimates were overly optimistic for 1988 and 1989. Unpopular, new taxes are seen as the way to solve the budget crunch. (MLW)

Muhlenberg College (Pennsylvania) has refocused its efforts on serving student needs and being perceived as a substantial value for the tuition charged. A merit-pay plan rewards faculty and administrators demonstrating extraordinary concern for and commitment to students. (MSE)