FAYETTEVILLE, ARK–
It’s no secret that tuition costs at the UofA are rising, but for some students it makes becoming a Razorback almost impossible.
Brooke McCaslin always wanted to be a razorback. But after completing two years at the northwest Arkansas community college, or NWACC, she went to enroll at the UofA but she was surprised to discover she couldn’t afford it.
“It was super shocking I didn’t think it was going to be quite that much more expensive,” said McCaslin.
According to UofA officials tuition costs have risen by four percent in the last two years. That makes the UofA four times more expensive to attend than NWACC. Although there is financial aid available to some students McCaslin was only eligible for student loans. So instead of becoming a Razorback McCaslin got a job at the mall.
“I just wanted to take some time off to figure it out, how I was going to pay for it, what I was going to do,” said McCaslin. “I don’t want to put myself in like a crazy amount of debt before I’m 22.”
McCaslin isn’t the only student who has struggled with the rising tuition costs. A study done by CNN found that over 40 million Americans have some kind of student loan debt and that number is rising. But McCaslin remains hopeful and says she will continue to work until she can afford to go back to school.
“I love working retail, but it’s not where I want to be forever, said McCaslin”
Students needing federal financial aid can go to fafsa.gov and find out their options.