There are three categories of private degree colleges in the city. Category I (top) colleges charge Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000, category II (middle-level) colleges between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000, and category III (lower-level) colleges between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000. The fee for seats in Bachelor of Business Administration, introduced by OU in 2011-12, is huge, costing up to Rs 40,000.
AP has the largest number of engineering colleges in the country, but the standard of education is poor. “Students prefer to take admissions in good degree colleges instead of opting for engineering colleges. The placement opportunities for students in degree colleges have increased,” said Mr E. Parameshwar, chairman, Jahnavi Group of Institutions. Any increase in fees will hit students who are dependent on fee reimbursement. The government has decided to reimburse the amount prescribed by the university, which is less than Rs 10,000. The additional amount has to be borne by the colleges. Student unions are demanding that the government fix the fee structure for private degree colleges.
Things were very different between 2005 and 2009, he says, when degree colleges found it difficult to fill their classes. “The situation has reversed now. Seats in degree colleges are now getting filled, while a large number of seats in engineering colleges are going vacant,” he said.