Louisiana's program of state merit scholarships, inspired by Georgia's HOPE Scholarship program, is over budget in its first year because lawmakers pushed to expand eligibility and data for estimating costs was inadequate. Critics find such programs often provide aid to families with little financial need. The program pays full tuition at state…

Over the past 15 years, California has significantly increased fees for its residents attending the State's public colleges and universities. All three of California's public postsecondary education segments charge resident students a systemwide enrollment fee. In addition, the California State University and the University of California also…

California charges students enrolled in academic graduate degree programs more to attend the State's public universities than it charges undergraduate students. The rationale for this differential stems from two principle factors. First, providing graduate courses is generally more expensive than the cost of providing undergraduate courses.…

The passage of Proposition 13 in California has focused attention upon the possibility of requiring students to pay for a larger portion of the costs of their education through increased student fees and the imposition of resident tuition. Currently, a number of fees are authorized by the Education Code which result in an annual income slightly…