Dartblog

The D’s new directorate ran an interesting editorial on Friday. Its conclusion:

Dartmouth currently has the second-highest annual tuition among the Ivy League, led only by Columbia University. This is in spite of the fact that living costs in the areas surrounding Hanover are significantly lower than in the areas in which our peer institutions are located. Unless the administration does something to address this problem, it will only be worsened by the policy of no longer allowing pre-matriculation credits. In order to remain competitive, the College must do more to address affordability.

Confirmed readers of this space will recognize the inspiration for these words. Now let’s see if the members of the directorate can complete their reasoning and determine just where the College has been overspending all these years. Looking at Brown’s annual budget, for example, would be a fertile area for exploration. How can Brown, with 38% more students (undergrad and graduate) than Dartmouth, and doing business in high-cost Providence, have a total budget that is 11.5% less than that of the College — and also charge its students 5.2% less than Dartmouth each year for their education?

One hint: Even with 38% more students, Brown has fewer non-faculty employees than we have in Hanover. Go figure.