Discount Rates on Art School Tuition?

The president of the Columbus College of Art & Design wants you to think that art school discount rates matter more than college sticker prices.  

Seriously?  

Dennison W. Griffith, the friendly looking CCAD president, defines the "discount rate" as "the ratio of financial aid given compared with the published tuition rate" (source: Columbus Dispatch, May 6, 2012, Op-Ed, "Some stats don't aid college search").  He's right that, nowadays, many schools offer lots of financial aid.  In fact, a lot more than in your parents' school days.  It's the direct result of skyrocketing tuition costs - kind of like pouring more sugar when the medicine keeps tasting worse.

And sure, during your college years, if you only look at the cash you put down every year versus the official tuition number, you may find yourself palling up with a glorious art school discount! 

For example, when Mr. Griffith says that the "net tuition paid by the average student [at CCAD] reflects a 38 percent discount off tuition," he's suggesting that instead of paying $27,504 per year, you could pay only $17,052 (if you're average, that is).  

A $10K+ savings, youthinks?!?  

Nooo, don't go screamin':  "higher ed on sale!"

What Mr. Griffith wants you to look past is how much of that financial aid consists of ...  
STUDENT LOANS!  

Gosh, those again...  Seriously, did you notice that nowhere in his op-ed, Mr. Griffiths breaks down how much of that aid is free money (grants, scholarships) versus shackle money (loans).

Therefore it's time for:  COMMON SENSE.

Common Sense says:

If Mr. Griffith could have boasted of big scholarships and plentiful grants covering lots of his students' tuition and making up the bulk of CCAD's "discount rate," he would have said it!!!

There.


For most students, too much of the "discount rate" is shackle money (loans).  And even with a 38% discount rate per year, the well-respected Columbus College of Art & Design is about $10,000 more than any CSU.  Save your money, don't start your art career poor!

OK, time for the bill:  the discount rate is the wrong place to start measuring the bangs for the bucks of an art school.