patrick.net

Once upon a time, state funding covered most of the costs at California universities. Old timers here tell me there was once no tuition at all.

Hey look at that spike around 2000, look familiar? Money was sloshing around so hard some of it made it to education. Then that crashed and the state returned to familiar pattern of yearly cuts.

As the state funding has been slashed in recent times, and student populations required to increase, naturally the difference has to come from tuition. The big game right now is chasing after more and more students, specifically to bring in the revenue to keep the ship afloat.

The best way to go is to learn a trade that will get you off the minimum wage track, save a little money, and then go to school while working in your trade. Whether it be drafting or nursing aid or dental aid, or plumbing or roofing or welding or pipe fitting or whatever. Get a trade so you become skilled labor, you'll make a lot more and paying for school just got reasonable. Do a few classes on the side during this time to get a start, then go full or half time for a while. Above all, avoid student loans unless you are currently going through medical, dental, or some related specialty school where A high paying job is practically guaranteed upon graduation.