Published 2011-11-14T19:06:00Z”/>
Kathleen Dazzi
When Kayla Bruni first came to Chico State five years ago she thought tuition was worth it.
Not anymore, the senior recreation major said.
Like Bruni, students across California face higher fees. Although students continue to enroll at Chico State because of its appeal, budget cuts have affected the college experience.
Cher Vang, chose to come to Chico State because of its great reputation, he said.
Chico State has gained recognition in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings through the years and is currently ranked 33rd in western regional universities, according to the website.
The university’s sustainability efforts are considered noteworthy by Princeton Review’s 2011 Guide to 311 Green Colleges.
In a down economy the better the ranking, the better the chance of finding a job, but other schools probably offer similar college experiences, Vang said.
Rankings and reputation of a school don’t matter if students are getting a general degree, Bruni said.
“A degree is just a job requirement to give you a better salary,” she said.
Going to a school that excels in a particular program looks better for jobs, said Micah Wilson, a freshman civil engineering major. Wilson heard of Chico State’s engineering program in high school.
Wilson is glad he did not go to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is also recognized for its engineering program, because his major classes are very personal, and he enjoys the small class sizes, he said.
Wilson enjoys the abundance of outdoor activities available in Chico, like dirt biking, snowboarding and swimming, he said.
Morgan Storm, a senior recreation major, thinks the personal feel of Chico State sets it apart, she said.
Budget cuts have changed the quality of classroom instruction, Storm said.
Professors in her department have been let go, while the new ones hired are not up to par, she said.
“I’m not getting a good value like I should be,” Storm said.
For Vang, the beauty of the campus and the Wildcat Recreation Center stand out, he said.
After paying for tuition and school fees though, he barely has any money left over, Vang said. Buying books is always a struggle.
Higher tuition should equate to an even better education, not the opposite, he said.
Katie Ocasion, a junior anthropology major, finds Chico State to be worth the money, she said.
Tuition increases may seem inevitable, but there is a discrepancy in the value placed on education and other institutions in a bad economy.
It seems like it costs more to go to school than to go to jail, Bruni said.
“When that’s changed maybe it will be worth it,” she said.
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<strong>Kathleen Dazzi can be reached at</strong>
<em>[email protected]</em>
