Theres no question that going to college is a smart economic choice. But a look at the strange variations in tuition reveals that the choice about which college to attend doesnt come down merely to dollars and cents. Does going toColumbiaUniversity(tuition, room and board $49,260 in2007-08) yield a 40% greater return than attending theUniversityofColoradoatBoulderas an out-of-state student ($35,542)? Probably not. Does being an out-of-state student at theUniversityofColoradoatBoulderyield twice the amount of income as being an in-state student ($17,380) there? Not likely.
No, in this consumerist age, most buyers arent evaluating college as an investment, but rather as a consumer productlike a car or clothes or a house. And with such purchases, price is only one of many crucial factors to consider.
As with automobiles, consumers in todays college marketplace have vast choices, and people search for the one that gives them the most comfort and satisfaction in line with their budgets. This accounts for the willingness of people to pay more for different types of experiences (such as attending a private liberal-arts college or going to an out-of-state public school that has a great marine-biology program). And just as two auto purchasers might spend an equal amount of money on very different cars, college students (or, more accurately, their parents) often show a willingness to pay essentially the same price for vastly different products. So which is it? Is college an investment product like a stock or a consumer product like a car? In keeping with the automotive worlds hottest consumer trend, maybe its best to characterize it as a hybrid (混合动力汽车); an expensive consumer product that, over time, will pay rich dividends.
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