NJ.com - October 30, 2009
Mark DiIonno (excerpts from October 30th column)

 

When it comes to K-12 education, New Jersey is usually A-1.  The state is the nation's yearly valedictorian, or salutatorian.  Certainly never less than fifth in the class.

 

So why then is New Jersey at the bottom of so many higher education categories:  50th in per capita funding; 47th in college capacity, and therefore, worst, by far, at keeping students in-state.

 

In this economy, more and more New Jersey students want to stay home.  At the state's 19 community colleges enrollment is up 12 percent, nearing 100,000 for the first time.  The nine state colleges (not including Rutgers), are also tipping near 100,000, up 20 percent in the last decade.

 

Yet in real dollars, the state spends less on higher education than it did 20 years ago.  That's one bottom line.

 

Here's another.

 

About 35,000 kids leave New Jersey each year to go to college and take about $6 billion with them.

 

"When you factor in tuition, transportation and all other student spending, there is significant revenue leaving the state," said Paul Shelly of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities.  "My calculations put it at $6 billion."

 

Shelly says the money isn't going far, either.  Most New Jersey students stay in the Mid-Atlantic or New England.

 

"New Jersey does [not do] much research as to where the students are going.  I don't think they want to admit our money is being exported just over to Lehigh Valley or down in Delaware."

 

"Studies show a very high percentage of students get their first jobs in the state where they attend college," Shelly said.  "I don't think New Jersey can continue to lose our bright students, the very students we create."

 

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