Greens say more than a million hits on interactive that works out cost of degree

AN average of $44,500 extra for a degree? A new calculator could prove to be a major weapon against proposed uni fee changes.

Federal Treasurer, the Honorable Joe Hockey MP, speaking at the NSW Liberal Party Post Budget Luncheon, Sydney.

IT’S a measure how significant the cost of higher education has become after the Budget that the Greens say there have been more than a million hits on a calculator said to show how much a degree now will cost.

Government sources have questioned the accuracy of the calculations on the What Will My Degree cost website, but there can’t be any doubts about the interest in the outcomes.

Ruth Colley, 16, from Briar Hill, will now have to pay more fees for her education when she goes to University to do Marine Biology.

The Greens believe the findings from the online turnout will be a weapon in the Parliamentary debate over the uncapping of higher education fees and increased interest charged on HECS debt.

“It is extremely concerning that the average increase in fees the site has calculated is $44,500 and the average increase in repayment time is five years,” Greens higher education spokeswoman Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

“These changes are going to have severe financial repercussions on students and their families. Right now, parents across Australia are wondering how their kids will afford to go to university.’’

Protests at an Australian university over proposed fee increase. Photo: Bob Barker.

This reporter posed as a 22-year-old male about to start an arts degree in Canberra to see what the interactive site would come up with.

It said my fees would go up from $18,000 pre-Budget to $46,000 when the uncapped rates began. That, by my calculation, was an increase of about 155 per cent.

This compares with a warning from Melbourne University vice chancellor Glyn Davis that fees could rise 61 per cent. That would see the cost of my phantom arts degree go from $18,000 to $28,980.

Protests at an Australian university over proposed fee increase. Photo: Bob Barker.

The calculator said it would therefore take me 32 years to pay off my HECS debt, compared to 17 years pre-Budget.

“The Greens have consistently opposed all of the funding cuts to higher education announced as part of the 2014 budget,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“While we’re glad to see Vice-Chancellor’s line up against key elements of the Coalition’s reforms, we believe universities should put students first and oppose fee deregulation.”

Originally published as Greens say more than a million hits on interactive that works out cost of degree