#6: PERRY PRICES TEXANS OUT OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION
October 9th, 2009

Perry FailureThe average cost of attending Texas’ colleges and universities has skyrocketed by 136% from 2003 to 2008 – the consequence of a failed tuition deregulation scheme concocted by Rick Perry and Texas Republicans.

Under one-party Republican rule, Rick Perry and his fellow Republicans have priced many students and families out of the opportunity for higher education. In order to compete for good jobs in an increasingly difficult economy, every Texan should have the opportunity to receive an affordable, first class college education. Yet Rick Perry has bankrupted the future of thousands of Texas students by supporting a failed tuition deregulation scheme that drastically increased tuition costs.

Meanwhile, Texas families are paying the price of Perry’s politics, as he spends his time firing university regents who endorse his primary opponent instead of helping Texas students afford a college education. (Source: Austin American-Statesman)

  • In 2003, the statewide average for the cost of tuition was $625 – by 2008, the cost had skyrocketed to $1,477, an increase of 136%. (Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)
  • During the same time period, 14,000 fewer students received TEXAS Grants – funding to help pay the cost of tuition for students in need – at a time when student loans account for 63% of all the aid received. (Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)
  • Due to the rising cost of tuition, the Texas Tomorrow Fund – now named the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan – is broke, and Texas taxpayers will have to spend $2.1 billion to make up the shortfall. (Source: San Antonio Express-News)

The tuition deregulation scheme that has priced Texans out of a college education is business as usual under Rick Perry, and another way he has failed Texans.

Next – #5: Perry’s Stimulus Hypocrisy Costs Texans

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To read more about how Rick Perry has failed Texas, visit the TDP’s Top Ten Rick Perry Failures page by clicking here.