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Rising cost of higher education
The problem of rising college tuition
The rising cost of higher education
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In 1965, the United States legislature passed a historical legislation called the Higher Education Act of 1965. This was an important legislation intended to strengthen the resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance to students in postsecondary and higher education. Today, this act remains the foundation for most postsecondary education subsidies, including the Federal Pell Grant program. Since its inception, the federal government has continued to provide varying amounts of funding for higher education in hopes of encouraging college enrollment by reducing college costs. Yet, according to the Department of Education, the United States, once ranked a global leader in postsecondary education, has slipped to fifth in terms of proportion of 25-64 year olds holding a higher education degree and even more discouraging, has fallen to ninth in attainment among the younger generation, aged 25-34 (Department of Education). Could this be due the skyrocketing costs of college tuition and fees? Because college fees have increased more rapidly than grant levels, Pell Grants cover a lower proportion of total college expenses than it did a decade ago. Fortunately, the Obama administration wants to see this trend in higher education end and as a result has relentlessly fought to protect the program. Although the Pell Grant Program is currently secure, there are some that would like to see the government eliminate the program; however, any drastic cuts to the program would leave many students changing their college plans or unable to attend at all, thousands of students currently enrolled in school to dropout, and affect the nation’s already weakened economy. From a very young age, students are prea... ... middle of paper ... ...f/college/college_tuition_cost/index.htm>. College Board. “What’s the Best Plan for Your Child?” Why Community College? College Board. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2011. . “Financial Aid Data Points.” Chart. Washington: Education Trust, 2009. Education Trust. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. . Johnson, Jean, et al. With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them. San Francisco: Creative Commons Attribution, 2009. 41. Public Agenda. Web. 7 Nov. 2011. . Lee, John Michael, Jr., and Anita Rawls. The College Completion 2010 Progress Report. N.p.: n.p., 2010. 15. College Board. Web. 7 Nov. 2011. .
Girod, Gary. "Are The Millennials The Screwed Generation." Mag.newsweek.com. Joel Kotkin, 16 July 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
Web. The Web. The Web. 13 Nov. 2013. Bartlett, Bruce.
Rather than writing a generic article about the value of community college in terms of cost, Liz Addison writes
One major decision one must make after exiting high school is whether to go to a university or go to community college. In the article “Two Year Are Better Than Four,” written by Liz Addison. She expressed her opinion on the significance of community colleges in comparison with the university. She stated that community college do not receive the acknowledgment and appreciation that they deserve. “what’s the matter with colleges?,” (Addison 255).
Community colleges and vocational tracks are not wrong about the high cost of traditional higher education. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, one year at a public, four-year institution costs upwards of $23,000 on average, while private institutions will cost nearly $10,000 more on average. Coupled with the fact that prices at public institutions rose 42 percent and private institutions rose 31 percent between 2001 and 2011, it’s not a shock that parents and students alike worry about paying for college. However, this won’t always be the case, as this rise in prices simply cannot continue the way it has. Eventually, people will be unable to pay the price that colleges charge. They will either settle for com...
eaglenet.lambuth.edu. Web. The Web. The Web. 28 July 2011.
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.
... enrollment at public colleges and universities." Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. American Educational Research Association. 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.
In the words of Claiborne Pell, U.S. Senator of Rhode Island and sponsor of the Pell Grant, which provides financial aid to American college students, “The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people.” These words speak of the importance of education and the need for public support in order to continue America’s tradition of investment in our youth being an investment in our country.
For most young Americans, college has always been preached to them as being a vital part to their success in the adult world; but as they reach this educational rite of passage many find they must take out inflated loans, work part time jobs, or even become dissuaded entirely due to the exorbitant costs of higher education. We must forsake this current antiquated system in favor of government-subsidized tuition. Therefore, college education must be free because of its benefits to the economy, creation of equal opportunity, and the resolution of the student loan crisis. The first ever federal government-backed student loan program began in the 1950s under the National Defense Act (Sourmaidis). This was primarily offered as an incentive for students to pursue math and science degrees to compete with Soviet Russia after the launch of the Sputnik satellite (Sourmaidis).
Higher education in America continues to be critical for both individual success and the social and economic health of our country. More students than ever must rely on student loans to pay for a college degree, with the average borrower now graduating with over $26,000 in loan debt. The combination of high student debt and low earnings can lead to default, ruined credit and wage garnishment. The U.S. PIRG Higher Education Project is working to: keep loans affordable, increase grant aid to students, such as the Pell Grant, and lastly, making textbooks affordable.
Johnstone, Bruce. "Investing more equitably and efficiently in higher education, creating value for America." National Dialogue on Student Financial Aid (2003): 6-10. Print.
The Web. The Web. 6 Jan. 2014. Smith, Chris.