San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

SDSU grads finish with least debt in CA

File photo

San Diego State ranked No. 8inthenationandNo.1in California among universities whose students graduate with low amounts of debt, according to U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” list. The SDSU NewsCenter reports 44 percent of SDSU students graduate with no debt and nearly half of the students receive grant aid. According to Director of Media Relations at the NewsCenter Greg Block, about 41 percent of students comprise their tuition payment of financial aid and loans while less than 15 percent rely solely on loans. About.com College Admissions reported 35 percent of students received loans at SDSU in the 2009-10 academic year. The website noted 51 percent of UCSD students and 29 percent of students at UC Berkeley received loans in the same school year. The average amount of student debt at SDSU is $16,400. “After I personally graduate, I’ll have a little over $20,000 to pay back in student loans,” Associated Students Vice President of External Affairs Tom Rivera said. “Price was not a factor for me coming to SDSU.” Rivera is in one out of the five A.S. executive committees who voted to decrease its annual pay. The executives’ salary would have elevated with the tuition increase in California because A.S. wages are determined by projected SDSU undergrad off-campus living expenses. Protesting tuition increases and cuts to CSU campuses would have been hypocritical for A.S. had they accepted financial compensation for the issues they’d been fighting. According to A.S. Executive Director Dan Cornthwaite, such is the case of SDSU President Elliot Hirshman’s controversial salary. Hirshman’s presidential wage, a 33 percent augmentation from those of his predecessor’s, were increased to match other major university presidents. Hirshman’s pay has been heavily noted amidst California State University and University of California budget cuts. Because of this, meetings to determine pay increases of executives and CSU budget cuts have been discussed during the same meeting. Last week, The Huffington Post published an article quoting Hirshman’s support of the CSU and UC decisions to follow a national trend and increase the out-of-state student population of their universities. However, the article failed to quote Hirshman’s entire sentiment toward the decision. Hirshman has previously called the issue “sensitive” and assured the increase would be “moderate” for SDSU. Some California administrators argue the increase is used to create a more diverse student body. The U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” lists also ranked SDSU on the top 20 universities for ethnic diversity. Recently SDSU was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, providing the school access to federal grants and scholarships to colleges and universities serving a high population of Hispanic students. “We are very proud to serve such a diverse group of students, which enriches our campus both academically and socially,” Hirshman said. Most Hispanic undergraduate students at SDSU, which comprised 29 percent of undergraduates last year are California residents or in- state students, according to collegeportraits.org. Other administrators including UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau opposed legislative initiatives to limit out-of-state student enrollment. In a letter to California Senator Michael Rubio, Birgeneau said, “a reliable revenue stream” is his main allegation for such enrollment’s continuation and growth. According to Birgeneau, state support fell to fourth place as a source of revenue for UC Berkeley, behind research-funding, philanthropy and tuition. Out-of-state enrollment amounts to 25 percent at UC Berkeley and only 8 percent at SDSU. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, SDSU state funding dropped from $221 million to $103 million since 2008. An additional $200 million cut will happen next year if Proposition 30, a temporary tax for education and public safety, is not passed by voters in November.

Activate Search
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
SDSU grads finish with least debt in CA