Paying for College: Distinguishing Between Cost and Price
A report prepared by Sandy Baum for Making Opportunity Affordable. Paying for College makes a start at advancing the productivity conversation. It outlines a simple framework for understanding concepts in college costs. Developing both clear language to describe the central elements of college finance and adequate data to measure and compare trends are key components of the process. The paper also reviews basic college finance concepts, explains existing evidence about costs, and describes some of the gaps in available data. The goal is to lay the groundwork for constructive efforts to hold down costs without compromising quality or educational opportunities.
