Should Colleges Be Free For Everyone?

Should Colleges Be Free For Everyone?

18:37 14 July 2021

All sorts of discussions start making rounds whenever some government officials or politicians bring suggestions about making education free. For years, it has been a major policy issue for election campaigns. Many presidents have adopted the model in one way or another, offering free education to some extent at the school level.

 

But the real debate arises when it comes to allowing free college for students. Where would the money come from? How will the salaries be paid? Wouldn’t it decrease the standard of education in colleges? Many of such questions are still unsolved.

 

Although the increasing cost of higher education is devastating, is free college the solution? We need to dig a little deeper to understand this.

 

What Is the Need for Free College?

The advocates of free college state numerous valid reasons, the affordability being the center point. As per the stats, a college student spends an average of $36,000 per year. While in private institutions, it can go up to $54,000.

 

Free college proposal professes that if higher education is made accessible for a larger group of youngsters, it will help the economy grow in the long run. It would also allow the young generations to choose their career majors without worrying about the exorbitant fees.

 

Overall, free education will improve living standards and create a prosperous future for the country. As for now, students who belong to low-income families either don’t attend college or are burdened with student debts.

 

Also, while student loans may sound like a good option, these extensive dues deprive the debtor of living a good life. They spend many years of their careers paying back their loans. If they can’t, the government has to bear the losses. This is also unhealthy for the economy.

 

Students can instead be free from such loans and earn well in life after graduating. They are then more likely to spend on houses, cars, and other amenities, helping the economy rise.

 

What About Community Colleges?

As of now, no community college is free of cost. However, many colleges rebate tuition fees for eligible students. The other expenses related to the course are not covered. So, students have to bear the costs for books, accommodations, transportations, etc. Besides, they often need to use services to write essays for me by quality authors, which adds to their expenses but saves time and effort.

 

And to be honest, it is a pretty good option for low-income aspirants. The tuition fee covers a large portion of overall college expenditure. A student can check with their local community college for eligibility criteria and apply for the fee waiver.

 

Why Is Free College Not a Solution?

Perhaps, it hasn’t been said enough, but what comes free isn’t valued much. The saying is true in this context too. The USA has been providing free-of-cost education for students till 12th grade. However, the patterns and results have been shocking.

 

Despite offering free classes, public schools see a decline in the number of students who attend high schools. Additionally, when education is made free, the institutions need to rely upon funds from different sources. In the absence of enough funds, the quality cannot be maintained.

 

Here’re a few reasons why making colleges free is not a good idea.

 

Money Isn’t the Only Reason Why Students Drop Out

While it is easier to assume that many students don’t complete their graduations due to unbearable college fees, it is not the sole reason. Even after receiving Pell Grants and financial aid, many students fail to complete their degrees on time.

 

Many surveys have found out that amongst the reasons why students drop out of college, one is the difficulty in managing various responsibilities. Students can benefit from academic assistance services if they find it hard to juggle between assignments and obligations.

 

Also, when the fee is forgiven, they take the course for granted and prioritize other things in life. This eventually is harmful to the economy as the government is spending on a cause that is non-profitable in any way.

 

Some of the other reasons are jobs, health issues, disinterest in the course, inability to keep up with the schedules, and bullying at college (in rare cases).

 

It Deprives Students of Many Practical Life Skills

Those who value education find a way to achieve it. A student’s real-life struggles truly start at college. They learn to make decisions based on the colleges, courses, and their ability to gain a grant. With some guidance, they can escape from heavy debts and still pursue their dream courses at a good college.

 

With all these hurdles, students learn to manage finances, start side hustles, and enter into a competitive world where their hard work will help them succeed. If education is made fee-free, they will never learn these skills and suffer the most after college. And this trait is equally damaging to the economy.

 

The Lack of Quality Education Will Still Be a Concern

The kind of quality a college needs to provide comes at a price. If an institution relies upon funds and charities, it won’t be able to make the cut. So, it will create an opportunity gap for students, making them suffer in the professional world. Worse, it can even make it hard to find a good job.

 

If a student goes to a good college and takes out a loan to pay the fees, they will sustain a demanding job market due to gaining excellent skills. Such students will pay the debt in some years and will build a successful career.

 

Takeaway: The Ideal Solution?

One important thing that these free college proposals fail to address is how to make higher education affordable. We need to identify the reason behind the rising cost of college degrees rather than trying to make it free for everyone. Every student can work part-time or use a reasonable loan to pursue an affordable course.

 

Till then, those who want to enroll in college and cannot afford the fees can benefit from financial aid programs or tuition fee waiver facilities that states provide.