Instructional Costs at Master's Institutions

Abstract

This paper uses multiple regression to explain the variation in instructional cost per student at 373 master's institutions. The levels and prices of factors and a set of dummy variables are employed as regressors. The results suggest that instructional cost increases with the full-time faculty-to-student ratio, the clerical worker-to-student ratio, and average faculty salaries. Instructional cost also tends to be higher at smaller institutions, suggesting some economies in instruction. Finally, at public institutions the use of part-time faculty also tends to increase instructional cost. (120, 020)