The high price of graduation

By LETITIA STEIN

Graduation season is upon us with all its pointy-capped glory. Bring on the tears. The laughter. The speeches about futures so bright you have to wear shades.

Break out a wallet, too. Getting to that diploma isn't cheap.   

While the memories from this week's ceremonies in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando will last a lifetime, the bills had to be paid up front. No, we're not talking about Grandma's plane ticket for the big event, or the blow-out bash to celebrate it. Thought senior prom, portraits and Grad Night expenses added up? Check what it costs just to walk across the stage:

Cap, gown, tassel: $28; Medallion worn around neck: $9; Diploma cover: $9. There's a serious dress code for graduation. That's why the cap, gown, medallion and diploma cover often are sold as a package — a.k.a. required

Graduation announcements: 75 cents each. Want gifts? Better send out invites.

Photo packages: A portrait of the graduate, plus a shot walking across the stage to receive that diploma and shake the principal's hand: $30 to $65. Want to forget Principal X? Ha! You know the handshake photo is bound for a big frame in Mom's living room.

Class ring: Starts at $89 for silver. Gold ranges from $341 for a women's ring in 10-karat, to $545 for men's ring in 14-karat gold. Okay, so if you wanted a class ring, you got it a while ago. But graduation is the day to wear it.

Prices are estimates and exact figures can vary by school. Sources: Herff Jones for graduation products and attire, Bryn-Alan Studios for commencement photos. Main image from Photos.com.

Comments

[Jason]

Just more examples of the corporate raiding of Education. I am still amazed that underclassmen are shelling out big bucks for year books. Way back when... my friends and I only bought one during our senior year. Now kids are buying them every year. The yearbook publishers are making a fortune!

[Wendi]

Please lets not forget the $%.00 per person to attend the Graduations at Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Maybe things will get better with Wilcox out of the picture.

Come on Folks, these are our Kids that "Made IT" , and in these hards times today, that really says alot !!!!!!!!!

[Wendi]

That was $5.00 Per Person at Ruth Eckerd Hall. SHAME on them all !!!!!

[Kelly]

Jason, students purchase yearbooks every year because they are nice remembrances of high school. My high school yearbooks are better written and designed than my college yearbooks, plus I know more people in them, so they mean more than my college books! Plus, at least at my high school, the price of the books was largely subsidized by all the parents (and students wanting to appear popular) who bought ads for their kids or for themselves. Our books were $45 each year. Two of my friends were editors-in-chief of the yearbook and told me the books would have cost upwards of $100 if it weren't for the ads. So please check your opinion against the reality of the situation before bashing corporate America next time.

[ChumpNot]

I had my diploma mailed to me (at the school's expense). Was already out in the world working, commanding greenbacks and shunning unnecessary expenses. On the bright side, the student does learn their first real life lesson in capitalization.

[SirBaconBelly]

Had an English teacher in high school write a book of secondary content. Twas pushed on our eager minds as part of the English curriculum. I read a minimum and quickly concluded, it was a dud in the literary arena. Book went out of publication the next semester. The tax payers, albeit brief in it's limelight had to pick that one up also.

[Jason]

Kelly, I'm sorry. Did I offend you by accusing corporate America of sucking the education system dry?