Argumentative Essay: Should Higher Education Be Free?

1053 Words3 Pages

Should Higher Education Be Free? Many significant questions regarding higher education are in relation to its cost, raising fears that higher education has become unaffordable. Education fee for universities and colleges has continuously grown to become one of the largest expense for most students and parents over the years, especially with the never-ending dramatic tuition fee increases resulting from public funding cuts for education by the federal and state governments. Selingo (para 3) reported that higher education cost definitely has a direct impact on access, thus, the frequent increases in cost are logically of great concern to many, including parents, students, and education policymakers. In other words, this has disadvantaged the …show more content…

As stated by Kelvin (in the Monica Hellstrom for The Chronicle section), after the war, the government would give grants to students attending university and dive direct funding to universities. Between 1980 and 1990, university and college tuition and fees continued to grow in constant dollars grew at a 3.1% to 5.6% rate annually. On the other hand, during the same period, the average family income did not keep up with this inflation pace. Instead, family income on average fell in constant dollars between 1980 and 1993 from $42,500 to $40,500. In regard to student financial aid, students attending public higher education institutions between 1992 and 1993 academic year received an average grant amount of 29% (Carey para 4). Although governments have taken the initiative to fund education partially, still, students are forced to take great loads of education debt in order to afford higher …show more content…

Thus, there is great need for skilled graduates who can be availed by a free higher education system because, it is in colleges and universities where learners go to specialize in their respective fields. Specialization would allow the nation to become more competitive and innovative. Innovation would provide new technologies hence allow the nation to produce more disease cures and have a wider range of investment opportunities (Samuels 48). This would result in economic growth, better-paying jobs, and higher living

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