Ronald Ehrenberg, a professor at Cornell University and author of economics book “Tuition Rising,” gave the Theodore Marburg Memorial Lecture yesterday afternoon discussing rising tuition costs and how they affect private institutions like Marquette.

Linda Salchenberger, dean of the College of Business Administration, introduced the lecture series to a room of more than 100 students, faculty and visitors in Raynor Memorial Library’s Beaumier Suites.

“This lecture provides a forum for discussion of the world philosophical (and) social dimensions and economic issues and continues to advance Marburg’s commitment to the economic aspect of peace and overall justice,” Salchenberger said.

Before Ehrenberg spoke, Salchenberger left the audience with an idea that helped prime the group for the acclaimed economist’s speech.

“In many ways we are peering over a cliff and sort of looking into the abyss, asking, ‘What’s next for higher education?’” she said.

Ehrenberg began by addressing the current challenges that both private and public colleges face when it comes to the cost of higher education.

His talk focused on the stresses on higher education, the changes within the last few decades and how private institutions have responded.

Students today face the perception that where they go to college is as important as whether or not they choose to attend college, Ehrenberg said. It’s a major stress when it comes to universities trying to attract students.

Some of the major changes to higher education throughout the years have led to questions surrounding the incorporation of full-time and part-time faculty members rather than tenured faculty and how that may lessen the price load.

Another noticeable change is in the amount of tuition money put towards the individual student. In public universities, the amount of money allocated per student has decreased and has instead been used to offset university reductions, Ehrenberg said. For private universities, that money goes toward their students, he said.

One of his favorite analogies for private institutions is his cookie monster comparison. Just as the cookie monster has one objective in life — to get all the cookies — so too should private institutions.

“The drive to be the best is what has made higher education so great,” Ehrenberg said.

This drive has also led to success outside the university.

“Places like Marquette should be constantly emphasizing the quality dimension of the students’ experience and how its persistence in graduation rates compares to those of the public (schools),” he said. “Your graduation persistence rates are higher.”

Although tuition is generally higher at private institutions, Ehrenberg said they usually have an advantage in some areas over the pressures of public colleges and how they are affected by state governments. Many public universities seem to push students into fields that enhance earnings and, therefore, state tax revenues, he said.

“If one values degrees which only appeal to the earnings of graduates, one runs the risk of under producing trained people,” Ehrenberg said.

David Wasser, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said he thought Ehrenberg’s take on the contrast between public and private institutions was interesting.

“I never really thought about the advantage that the private institutions had over public institutions,” Wasser said. “I think it’s one of those things that private institutions can exploit to get a better student population, improve faculty and sort of improve the overall student environment.”