Issues in Modern Education: Should College Be Free

A majority of highschool students today plan to go to college to continue their education​.​ Many parents would want their kids to live the life that they never had​.​ ​ When a student is choosing their dream college, they want to be able to live stress free without having to worry about student loans​.​ Having to worry about college tuition can make a student unhappy with wherever they choose to go to college​. ​So “Should college be free?” argumentative essay answer this question and states that ​after a student graduates college, they would still have to worry about paying back the student loans that have developed over their college years.

To continue, college can be an outlet for students wanting to be independent and be away from their families for a while​.​ Having free education for college students can be beneficial to the student themselves, and to their parents as well​.​ College can be a stressful time for a student, but having free college tuition, they wouldn't have to worry about loans, and fees during their college education​.​ With the use of free education, it can be beneficial to the parents as well, because parents can focus on paying other bills, and not have to worry about their kids when it comes to college​. ​Having free college tuition can benefit students in the future​. With the use of free college tuition, it can reduce student loans for many graduating seniors​.​ According to the article, “Interest Rates on Student Loans,” by Max Fay, he states that, “Federal student loan interest rates for the 2017-2018 school year range from 4.45% to 7%​.​” This is saying that the rate for student loans have increased within the school year​.​ With the use of free college tuition, the government will be able to see that the interest rate for student loans decrease​. ​In the article, “Issues in Higher Education,” by Alan Greenblatt, he says that, ​“The rise in costs, in turn, has propelled total student debt to a record $1.5 trillion, more than twice what consumers owe on credit cards.”​ This proves that the student loans have set a record, and it's more than what people owe on credit cards that they own. Having such a large student debt, could set everything back, and possibly ruin the future for many graduating seniors. Having student loans, can also set back many graduating seniors from finding a job, that will help them in the end​. ​In the article, “It’s Time to Push for Free College,” by Max Page and Dan Clawson, they claim that, “​Most who graduate do so with tens of thousands of dollars of debt, shackling them to creditors for decades and limiting their career options​.​” Having a high amount of student debt reduces their opportunities of finding different career options​.​ A majority of students when they enter college, they already have their life planned out, but when they graduate, the student loans that they developed are stifling their career choices​. ​Having free college tuition could decrease their student loans, as well as increase their career opportunities. Student loans have set a record, and having free college tuition can reduce the interest rate, as well as increase opportunities for students. In the article, “51% of young Americans support tuition-free public college,” by Abigail Hess, she claims that, “According to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, 65% of all jobs in the U.S. economy will require education beyond high school by 2020.” This means that by next year, having a college degree will increase your chances in finding a job that they would enjoy at the end of the day. Having free college tuition can open up many job opportunities for graduating seniors because they would not have such high levels of student debt.

Having free college tuition can lead people to have more jobs. With how important a degree is today, a degree can help graduating seniors live their life in the real world. In the article, “College Costs,” by Lorna Collier, she states that, “ Despite the rising costs, studies show that most students with bachelor’s degrees will earn significantly more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma, say defenders of undergraduate education.” This is saying that graduating with a bachelor’s degree can lead people to a more successful lifestyle. Having free college tuition can increase attendance, which could lead more students getting degrees. In the article, “College Costs,” by Lorna Collier, she claims that, “... many students are graduating with high college debt- and many are questioning whether a bachelor’s degree is worth the time and money.” This means that having a bachelor’s degree is not worth spending years and years paying off your student debt. Many of the jobs today require at least a bachelor’s degree, and having a tremendous student debt can hold a student back from finding a job that benefits their lifestyle. 

After graduating highschool, some students are not motivated to continue their education at the college level. A majority of students limit their college choices, because their families cannot afford the tuition. In the article, “Issues in Higher Education,” by Alan Greenblatt, he claims that,“Cuts in state higher-education funding have led public colleges and universities to sharply raise tuition and fees, which in turn has helped push student debt to more than $1.5 trillion and put college out of reach for millions.” This goes to say that with the increase of college tuition, it makes college unaffordable for many students. Low income families might not be able to afford college tuition, and their financial aid is barely helping them. According to the article, “Why Free College is Necessary,” by Tressie McMillan Cottom, she says that, “Given all of these factors, free college would likely benefit only an outlying group of students who are currently shut out of higher education because of cost. . .”. This is saying that having free college tuition would benefit a small group of people. The small group of people could be low income families, foster kids, and first generation students. In the article, “The Pros and Cons of ‘Free College’ and ‘College Promise’ Programs,”​ by Denise- Marie Ordway, she asserts that, ​“​But some also aim to cover educational costs such as mandatory student fees, which  schools charge to help pay for student events, health services and other campus  offerings.” If college tuition was free, then students would not have to worry about paying  the different student fees. If a student is applying to an Ivy League school, by eliminating  college tuition, a student would not have to think about the different types of fees that  they would have to pay in order to attend the college. In the article, “Free college tuition:  the pros and cons,” by Vince Sanchez, he refers to what Noah Dickman says, “ ‘ If tuition is  suddenly free for Americans, there may be a problem where colleges would start admitting more international students as opposed to local residents.’ “This goes to say that it encourages different students from around the world to attend colleges in America. 

Having college tuition can encourage different groups of students to pursue their dreams.   Not having to pay for college tuition can relieve the stress from hardworking  students.​ ​“Others pay for college even though it co​mpromises​ their ability to pay rent or put food on the table”. This goes to show that many students today are working to keep up with the cost of living, and they do not have enough money to pay for their classes. Having free college tuition would eliminate the stress for college students because the student can focus on their school work, and their job. “The entire bottom 50% of families faces these challenges, since their incomes grew very slowly over the last 30 years”. This is saying that low income families have a hard time paying for college tuition because their monthly income is being used to support their families. Low income families face the problem of not being able to afford college tuition because of how low wages are and how high tuitions have gotten. In the article, “Some work full time but can’t find a course schedule that allows them to keep their job.” This is saying that the students that are hard working can’t keep up with the cost of living adjustments. Not having to stress over college tuition, can make students less overwhelmed, and focus on their house rent as well as school. With the use of free college tuition, hardworking students can focus on their studies, and their jobs.

Eliminating the use of college tuition can also reduce the stress from parents because parents can use the college tuition money to pay for bills and house rent. In the article, “Issues in Higher Education,” by Alan Greenblatt, he states, “A tax bill enacted in 1997 created several tax breaks that made it easier for parents to save for college, including tax-free education savings accounts known as 529 plans.” A 529 plan is a way for parents to save money for college tuition that offers different type of tax and financial aid benefits. Eliminating the use of tuition in colleges can benefit parents because they would not have to worry about setting up a 529 plan for their future students. Instead of setting up a 529 plan, they can use that money to pay for bills, and the house rent. This could relieve a lot of stress for a parent, because they would not have to worry about paying their college student’s tuition fee. In the article, “Issues in Higher Education,” by Alan Greenblatt, he claims that, “Because of the wage premium, students and parents have been willing to sacrifice higher education, even as tuition costs have consistently risen faster than inflation.” With how much of a burden college tuition is, parents can not make up the income to support their families. By putting an end to college tuition, it can reduce the stress for many determined parents that are trying to support their families. 

Having free college can also benefit the economy in the future. In the article, “The Economics of Free College,” by David J. Deming, he states, “The price of a four-year college education has risen faster than inflation for thirty consecutive years.” This means that for the previous thirty years the tuition of four year/private college have increased tremendously. Having free college tuition would solve this problem because it would increase productivity in the workforce, which would lead to market wages increasing as well. In the article, “Free college for all will power our 21st-century economy and empower our democracy,” by Arne Duncan and John Bridgeland, they claim that, “Today, escalating college costs, stagnant college graduation rates, and the growing $1.5 trillion in college debt has been put on the backs of our nation’s students and families.” This is saying that college debt is holding back graduation rates. This is a step-back in the economy because with the low graduation rates, there aren't many jobs that people can take without having a degree. This leads to the decrease in productivity which would lead to less jobs as well. Eliminating college tuition can increase jobs, and wages in the workforce.

Although, having free college tuition can benefit many people, the main question is: who is paying for the tuition? In the article, “Tuition-Free College Could Cost Less Than You Think,” by David Deming, he claims that, “Eliminating tuition at all public colleges and universities would cost at least $79 billion a year, according to the most recent Department of Education data, and taxpayers would need to foot the bill.” Foot the bill meaning that they would have to pay for the bill in order to pass it. If the bill to free colleges passes than taxpayers would have to pay for the college tuition in order for it to be free. In the article, “Free College Will Hike Costs for Taxpayers and Make the System More Opaque,” by Russell Rhine, he asserts that, “Free college would make things worse, while simultaneously transferring the entire burden to taxpayers.” Although, having free college could benefit hardworking students, but puts taxpayers at a disadvantage because their tax money goes to benefitting other people. In the article, “Free College Will Hike Costs for Taxpayers and Make the System More Opaque,” by Russell Rhine, he claims that, “ ‘Free’- really taxpayer-funded college would eliminate the existing transparency and remove families and students’ incentive to consider the underlying cost.” This means that with taxpayers paying for college tuition, parents and families lose the motivation to consider different costs that are needed for college. These different costs could be anything materialistic: clothes, backpacks, and etc. In the article, “The High Cost of Free College,” by Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan, they claim that, “The Department of Education guarantees student loans, effectively forcing taxpayers to guarantee those student loans.” This is saying that a majority of the taxpayers money could go to paying the college tuition for the lower income students. Taxpayers are using their money to benefit a majority of college students, instead they can be using their money to benefit their children. However, having free college can put students at a major advantage, but it also puts taxpayers at a disadvantage.

In conclusion, having free college education can benefit many students. At the point when an understudy is picking their fantasy school, they need to have the option to live tranquil without agonizing over understudy credits. Agonizing over school educational cost can make an understudy discontent with any place they decide to attend a university. After an understudy graduates school, they would even now need to stress over repaying the understudy credits that have created over their school years. School can be an outlet for understudies needing to be free and be away from their families for some time. Having free training for understudies can be advantageous to the understudy themselves, and to their folks also. School can be a distressing time for an understudy, however having free school educational cost, they wouldn't need to stress over credits, and expenses during their advanced degree. With the utilization of free training, it tends to be advantageous to the guardians also, in light of the fact that guardians can concentrate on taking care of different tabs, and not need to stress over their children with regards to school. Having free school educational costs can profit college students later on.

Works Cited

• Collier, Lorna. “College Costs.” ​Library.cqpress.com.fcep.ohlone.edu​, 25 Oct. 2019, http://library.cqpress.com.fcep.ohlone.edu/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2019102500&type=hitlist&num=2.
• Cottom, Tressie McMillan. “Why Free College Is Necessary.” ​Dissent Magazine​, 2019,https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/tressie-mcmillan-cottom-why-free-college-necessary.
• Deming, David J. “The Economics of Free College.” ​Economics for Inclusive Prosperity​, June 2019, https://econfip.org/policy-brief/the-economics-of-free-college/.
• Deming, David. “Tuition-Free College Could Cost Less Than You Think.” ​The New York Times​, The New York Times, 19 July 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/business/tuition-free-college.html.
• Duncan, Arne, and John Bridgeland. “Free College for All Will Power Our 21st-Century Economy and Empower Our Democracy.” ​Brookings​, Brookings, 18 Sept. 2018, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2018/09/17/free-college-for-all-will-power-our-21st-century-economy-and-empower-our-democracy/.
• Fay, Max. “Federal & Private Interest Rates on Student Loans.”, Debt.org, https://www.debt.org/students/financial-aid-process/interest-rates/.
• “Free College Will Hike Costs for Taxpayers and Make the System More Opaque.” ​Cato Institute​, 5 Sept. 2019, https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/free-college-will-hike-costs-taxpayers-make-system-more-opaque.
• Greenblatt, Alan. “Issues in Higher Education.” ​CQ Researcher by CQ Press​, CQ Researcher , 26 Oct. 2018, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2018102600&type=hitlist&num=1.
• Hess, Abigail J. “51% Of Young Americans Support Tuition-Free Public College.” CNBC, 2 Oct. 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/56percent-of-young-americans-support-free-public-college-how-it-might-work.html.
• Kumar, Amit, and Amit Kumar. “Disadvantages of Free College Education.” FreeEducator​, 1 June 2019, https://www.freeeducator.com/disadvantages-of-free-college-education/.