The idea of freedom and equal opportunity that America was built on has sadly been lost and replaced with a system of quality education only being accessible by the wealthy. In-state college tuition should be free for all students meeting admission requirements, allowing students from the full spectrum of economic backgrounds to have the same opportunity to receive the same education. The incidence of poverty in the U.S. is directly linked to educational level. When a college degree is earned, income levels rise (College Board). The best use of federal government anti-poverty funds is not another welfare or assistance program; it is to make college education affordable for everyone.
Allan and Davis mention the spike of college cost since 1995 has increased by 150 percent; student debt has increased 300 percent since 2003, and with education, second to the mortgage industry in the nation’s debt, America needs to redirect their attention to the future and focus on education (Allan n. pg). Budget cuts from national to state
Since the 1980’s the cost of attending colleges have increased rapidly. Rising costs of for Medicare, highways and prisons have caused many states to reduce a percentage of their budget for higher education. Colleges and Universities currently face a very serious challenge:
Center for College Affordability and Productivity. "25 Ways to Reduce the Cost of College." Center for College Affordability and Productivity, Sept. 2010. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. .
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the average tuition for just one year at a four-year private university was nearly $33,000. While the median inflation-adjusted household income fell by seven percent between 2006 and 2011, the average real tuition at public four-year colleges increased over that period by eighteen percent (1). To prove how rapidly the cost to attend college rose, researchers compared college tuition to the increasing cost of healthcare. Research showed that college tuition increased at twice the rate of healthcare costs over the past twenty-five years. While college tuition rapidly increased, average income fell, which left families in deeper debt with each upcoming year. High tuition costs make getting a college education unattainable for many low and middle income students. Luckily, thanks to an up-and-coming alternative to the typical college experience, there is now a chance for some of these students to pursue their dreams of higher education.
When thinking about college the same fear is established in just about every student’s mind. How am I going to pay for college? With an increase in college tuition in the past ten years, that question has become more frequent. Whether it is a private or public institution, the price is still no pocket change and how to pay for it has become harder and harder to accomplish. In today’s society, the average person can not get as far as they’d hope without a college education. With that accomplishment of receiving a college education, comes the dreaded loans that some students have and pass on to their children.
Whoever goes to college after high school are going to have a mountain of debts caused by student loans for the rest of the student’s life. College and universities are almost inaccessible to the people who want to achieve the dream job because of the high prices of college. In an article titled, “The Challenge of College Affordability: University of Alaska is a bargain in shaping the future” by Ashok K. Roy, it is stated that “The average student debt is approximately $26,600. Roughly $864 billion is out-standing in federal student loan debt while the remaining $150 billion is in private student loan debt”. People don’t have twenty-seven thousand dollars on hand to just pay for college out of pocket. Most people cannot even have breakfast, lunch and dinner, let alone spending money on college. Many students struggle with debt because of unemployment or under-employment. The same article stated, “The Center for the Study of Education Policy estimates that in 2012-13 the average tuition and fees at a four-year public universities was $8...
Today a college education is available to many more people, with the availability of grants and Stafford (guaranteed student) loans, given they have the desire, some level of intelligence, and often a willingness to go into debt for their education. According to www.house.gov, "Over the last 15 years, the cost of a public 4-year college education has increased by 234%. In comparison, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 74% and family incomes have risen only 82%." They also state that "The price of a college education has increased two to three times the rate of inflation since the early 1980's." The Global Institute, at www.edgorg.com, says that today there exists a "growing difficulty of moderate income families to pay for college" with st...
Education comes at a high price for this generation and not just financially. Going to college can give students plenty of debt with no promise of a job in return, which can set a student father back on their course of life. Young adults trying to start their lives by going to college encounter many setbacks. Today the average cost for a private university is $25...
With tuition rising every year, students face the challenge paying the debt achieving a college degree comes with. “Student debt surpassed credit-card debt in June 2010 for the first time in history, rising to about $830 billion — or nearly 6 percent of the nation 's annual economic output”(Clemmitt, Marcia). Not everyone has a ton of money just laying around. Being that financial trouble is the biggest problem for students, they begin to question whether college is worth it or not. In recent years, students have taken out loans to help with expenses. Most students choose to attend a community and junior college to help minimize the debt. Even after graduating with a degree, students still face the struggle of finding a job in this economic time. For higher class families this may not be a problem to them. But for the middle class and low income families, they face tougher times being that they don 't have the financial help like higher class families do. For the middle class and low income families, it makes more sense attending a community and junior college rather than a four year university.
Supiano, Beckie. "3 Things to Know About the Expected Family Contribution and College Affordability Comments." The Chronicle of Education. Head Count, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
One of the first steps toward college reform is to begin adjusting our tuition rates accordingly. Many college institutions have steadily raised the cost of tuition resulting in many students to have difficulties paying for college across the United States. Tuition rates have been a huge barrier for college undergraduates: "Over the past three decades, tuition at four-year colleges has more than doubled, even after adjusting for inflation" (Fact Sheet). Tuition is steadily increasing, causing college to become more expensive than in previous decades. Instead of helping Americans who have a desire to attend an educational institution, the government is slowly making it harder to attend and pay for college. High Tuition is preventing college undergraduates from obtaining a degree, causing many to be in a financial crisis when taking into account student loans and paying for tuition. Having high inflation rates in the economy is only making it worse and more difficult to get a higher education. The government would undoubtedly want to see improvements in employment rates within the United States, yet when Americans are trying desperately to obtain a degree, they have to deal with the overwhelming, costly tuition rates that have caused many to slow graduation and make college students pile up more debt than necessary. Thus, students often worry about debt
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college tuition and relevant fees have increased by 893 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). 893 percent is a very daunting percentage considering that it has surpassed the rise in the costs of Medicare, food, and housing. As America is trying to pull out of a recession, many students are looking for higher education so they can attain a gratified job. However, their vision is being stained by the dreadful rise in college costs. College tuition is rising beyond inflation. Such an immense rise in tuition has many serious implications for students; for example, fewer students are attending private colleges, fewer students are staying enrolled in college, and fewer students are working in the fields in which they majored in.
Children of the twenty first century spend nearly 13 years in school, preparing for what is college, one of the only ways to achieve the so-called “American Dream”. College is the best way to start an advanced career and go further than one possibly could if college degrees were not available, allowing people to achieve their view of the American Dream; whether it be large houses, shiny cars, multiple kids, or financial comfort, college is the stepping stone to achieve the American Dream. But all great things come with a price, college dragging along debt. Students who attend college struggle to find ways to pay for it, leading to applying for student loans. These loans a great short term, paying for the schooling at the moment but eventually the money adds up
Twigg, Carol A. “Affordability in Higher Education.” Committee on Education and workforce Hearing. July 10 2003. Federal Document Clearing House. 19 Feb. 2008 http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/archive/hearings/108th/21st/afford71003/twigg.htm>.