The Penn's Grove record., 1923-12-28
COST OF EDUCATION IN AGRI-
CULTURAL COURSES

]
The state colleges and universities
nave not a uniform practice in respect
TO tuition, laboratory and other ices.
AT most OF the state colleges and uni
Versltles fees to residents within the
I state are quite small, usually about
S5O.0O per annum. In few instances
they are somewhat higher, but usually
less than $4,000 per year. Non-resi-
dents are expected to pay an annual
tuition fee, which is usually $4,000.
Ihe foregoing statement has to do
with four-year course in agriculture
and home economics. In the short
courses in agriculture, whose length
may vary from one week to twelve or
more, usually no tuition charges are
made to residents. Registration fees
OF Sl.OO to $500 are customarilv ex-
pected, however Non-residents in
snort courses are made to paw $1,000
to $1,000 for the course. In New Jer-
sey, as in other states, tuition is free to
resident students who are taking short
courses in agriculture. Students in the
4-year course in home economies are
charged $4,000 per semester, or $4,000
for the academic year. Students in
other courses, including agriculture,
must pay tuition fees amounting to
Sz5O.OO per annum. Exception is made
for those who are holding state or
other scholarships. By an act of the
Legislature of 1864 a limited number
of students in the technical and agri
culture courses are awarded scholar
ships and are thereby exempted from
the payment of tuition fees. Under
the act of the Legislature of 1890
sixty scholarships are annually award
ed in the state. These are distributed
among candidates in the counties in
accordance with the number of assem-
bly, districts. For instance, counties
like Cape May or Sussex, having only
one assembly district, have one schol-
arship, whereas in Essex, with its
twelve assembly districts, there are
twelve scholarships. Candidates for
state scholarships must pass examin-
atlons arranged for the Department
of Public Instruction and the faculty of
the State University.
Of recent years much pressure has
developed, especially among farmers
in New Jersey, for more liberal az
rangments as to scholarships. The
argument is often heard that young
men from the state are charged less
for tuition at the state college of neigh
boring states than they are in their
own state. The matter has received
consideration at the hands of farmers
organizations. A bill dealing with the
matter was introduced into the Legis-
lature of 1913. 1t did not, however,
receive favorable consideration and
was not reported out of committee. 1t is
to be expected that the same question
will be discussed by individual ano
organizations of farmers and, for this
reason, it would be well to consider the
question in all its bearings. 1t is true
that more liberal scholarships arrang-
ments are desirable, especially fol
students whose means are limited but
whose character and scholarship are
such as to make acceptable students
Any effort to provide free tuition to
all candidates presenting high school
certificates would, naturally, involve
larger appropriations for the support
of the University. Such larger appro-
priations would mean, in the long run
somewhat higher taxes and many OF
the farmers in the State are even now
complaining of the constantly growing
tax burden. Altogether, therefore, the
problem is not as simple as it may
seem on the surface. 1t is, neverthe-
less, deserving of very serious
thought. 1t is to be hoped, at any
rate, that a way will be found to make
tuition charges at the State Univer-
sity of New Jersey as modest as they
are at the State institutions of neigh
boring States.-J. G. Lipman.