Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-23

every college lives up to its income these
figures indicate that it costs an average of
S115 per year to impart a liberal education
to American college youth.
Cost of Instruction.
The difference between the incomes of
the wealthiest institutions and their poorer
sisters is matched by the difference in the
cost of instruction. While the average for
the country is only s115. the amount in
each of the universities before referred to
is from three to four times this.
Harvard pays out 800 per year for each
of her nearly 1000 students. Cornell spends
1915 Columbia $3.50 end Yale 1910 AS the
tuition fees in these institutions vary from
500 to 5000. in nc case rising above the lat
ter amount the figures seem to sustain the
contention made by their managers that
the student receives more for his money in
the great universities than in the smaller
colleges.
Taking into account all the colleges in the
country, the average charge to students Cor
tuition fees is about $75, while the cost of
instruction to the colleges themselves is
Sll5. In the wealthtest universities the
tuition charge averages $3.50 and the cost
Of Instruction $3.50
As Charity Boys.
1t may be seen from this comparison that
all college education in this country Is, to
a degree. charitable education. There is
no institution entitled to be called uni
versity that Is supported from its fees.
Every one has and must have an income
aside from that drawn from its students.
The funds to provide this income come
either from states or from individuals.
Moreover, the larger the university, the
greater must be it's endowment and the
greater its use for benefactions.
The fact that the college loses money, so
to speak, on every student it receives has
brought about one of the unique features
OF college management. 1t Is generally
supposed to be the aim Of every institution
to get many students as possible. AS a
matter of fact. however, in the most pop
usar universities the problem is just the op-
posite-how to keep the number of students
within the limits that the institution can
afford to receive.
This is done ordinarily by raising the
cost of tuition or by increasing the re-
quirements for entrance. Harvard, Yale
and, in fact, nearly all the largest univer-
stiles have had to resort to these means to
prevent too rapid growth. This Is the
real reason of the higher tuition and en-
trance requirements of the great univer-
stiles, and not, as is sometimes charged, a
desire for educational exclusiveness,
So far as the management Of its perma-
nent funds is concerned, the problems Of
fered by a great university are largely
ance society. First OF all, the investment
must be safe. Speculation is out of the
question. In the second place, 1t Is highly
desirable that It should be permanent.
Moreover, it Is advantageous, that the in
vestments should have variety Of forms,
so that hard times, bad management or
financial disaster In any one enterprise
may not cripple the work of the Institution.
Two Unfortunate Colleges.
The danger OF having a colleges funds
all tied up In q single line Of securities has
been illustrated within the past few years
by the troubles Of Lehigh and Johns Hop
kins universities. Asa Packer. the founder
of the former, left its endowment In secur-