The Real Cost Of A College Education

The Real Cost of a College Education

Back in the day, a student could receive a decent college education without breaking the bank. They were able to just go in, learn, get a degree, and go about their lives doing what they loved. Suzy is currently enrolled in a public university, and is studying to be a veterinarian. When she started school, she had to take out a loan because she did not possess the amount of money in her bank account needed to pay for a semester of school. Three semesters in, her tuition rises to almost double what it was previously. She now has a summer job as well as having her part time job on the campus pushing paperwork. She spends every summer working 40 plus hour weeks to scrounge up a little bit of money so her loans for next semester aren’t as bad as the one before. She is now considering a third job just to have a little bit of spending money to eat and pay for the necessities. Many college students are facing this problem, and not only is it an economical problem, but it is also leading to an academic problem. The high cost of a college education is causing more debt for students and families, affects academic performance, and causes lower enrollment rates.

Cost

The cost of a college education has been on the rise for years. It is hurting students, and has spiraled out of control. One of the main reasons for the high cost is the lack of state and government funding over the years. In Kentucky, funding for colleges dropped from $1,187665803 in 2013 to $1,171,138,600 in 2015, a decrease of 1.4% (2016). This shows that the government has decided that public colleges are not a big priority for them anymore. Also, there has been an increase in “administrative bloat”. The definition of administrative bloat...

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...ground on their resumes, because it is associated with strong work ethic, teamwork, and dedication, not only to the country, but to one’s work.

In retrospect, the cost of a college education is too high, and there are things that need to be changed. We can also see that the effects of a high tuition rate affects not only college enrollment, but the general well-being of students, both academically and emotionally. If college tuition continues to rise at the rate currently, then colleges will become obsolete. They will no longer be able to keep doors open with the dwindling enrollment rates, but students will be forced to find better priced and more economical alternatives. A college degree was originally meant to be something that helps you get further in life, but as the years have gone by, it has only become a very large obstacle keeping us from bettering our lives.