From My Perspective

You can pick your pleasure when it comes to higher education in Idaho. In addition to four-year colleges like Boise State University, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho, Albertson College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University, your choices include a boatload of technical schools. But community colleges in Idaho are practically nonexistent.

There is the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. Treasure Valley Community College is in Ontario, Ore., a stone’s throw from Idaho.

It’s more than a debate as to whether southwestern Idaho’s growing population needs a community, or two-year, college. Now the issue has gone in front of the Idaho State Board of Education, which was to address petitions regarding the formation of a new community college district in Ada and Canyon counties on Monday.

Some say that attending universities or four-year colleges is too costly. I checked out the cost of tuition and fees at Idaho’s institutions of higher learning. There was a wide range of numbers, based on the 2005-06 academic year. As you might expect, tuition costs are much higher for private schools than public schools. Here are some of them, with in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees.

Four-year schools

u BSU — $3,872; $11,280.

u ISU — $4,000; $11,700.

u UI — $3,968; $12,738.

u ACI (private) — $15,200.

u NNU (private) — $17,730.

u BYU-Idaho (private) — $2,750.

u Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston) — $3,714; $10,266.

Two-year and technical schools

u CSI — $2,900; $5,300.

u University of Phoenix-Idaho Campus (Meridian) — $9,900.

u Eastern Idaho Technical College (Idaho Falls) — $1,826; $5,912.

In comparison, the tuition and fees cost at TVCC is about $3,000 for a three-quarter school year for in-state and about $3,500 for out-of-state.

It seems like new technical colleges, many offering online degrees, are popping up everywhere. They surely have come a long way in the last 15 to 20 years as the demand for technology degrees and experience increases in demand. When you couldn’t do so in the 1970s and into the 80s, a high school graduate can go to a technical college and make good money in a career.

Often a student can live at home and commute to college. That saves money, but you have to consider the rising cost of fuel.

It’s also quite common for people in their 30s and 40s — even their 50s — to change careers by “going back to school.” That is to get a two- or four-year degree.

Seniors are in the final two months of their high school experience. Are enough of them going on to college to get a degree? Many are preparing by taking college classes while in high school. Smart move.

A reason for the community college district is to prepare more Treasure Valley youth for the marketplace. There is a dire need for skilled and qualified workers in Idaho, as well as most other states. Some say there are a shortage of jobs. It’s a “catch 22.” You can be underqualified for one job and overqualified for another.

There is a place for just about everyone if you go into the right field of study.