College Education Should be Free
The making of college education free to students is a topic of intense controversy and debate across the United States. Government leaders, parents, and students, as well as other Americans, have taken the initiative to share their thoughts on factors that favor and counter, making college education free. Even before anyone disputes the making of college education free, they should understand that in the fall of 2017, a staggering 20 million students attended college. Currently, the cost of higher education, on average, increases at twice the speed of inflation. Every year, the cost of tuition goes up by 8% and in nine years, it will double. On their end, institutions of higher learning maintain that they are losing much money, an aspect that forces them to depend on large lecture classrooms and cheap faculties to remain afloat. To eradicate the excuses and pointing of fingers among students and members of the public, college education needs to be free, to increase chances of students getting jobs, enable them to focus on studies fully, to lower the student loan debt, and regain the lost central identity of higher education institutions.
When students go to college, they stand a better chance of getting a job. Not only in America but also across the world, most people go to school for purposes of securing a job (Hamilton, 2018). A comparison of people who have gone to school, with those who have not, settles the debate that education and employment are directly related. For that reason, the local, state, and the federal government needs to push for free college education, so that dedicated and educated learners can land their dream good jobs.
Besides, students would get enough time to fully focus and concentrate on their class and schoolwork. Most students, especially those in private colleges, secure part-time jobs to help fund their learning (Hamilton, 2018). They endure difficult times since some of their jobs are hectic to enable them to focus on schooling. If students were free to focus on their academics, institutions of higher learning would record impressive instances of students with a hunger for education spending more time on their schoolwork, including assignments.
Besides, the student loan debt would be significantly lowered. Across the country, many students are struggling with huge student loans. Such people are burdened with a loan that is yet to help them secure employment (Hamilton, 2018). Most students apply for loans when enrolling in a college. Immediately after study completion, they are required to repay the loan. The need makes unemployed students go through stressful days when they are yet to secure a decent job that could help them repay the loan. Therefore, student loan debt and stress among students would significantly be reduced.
On the same note, the federal government needs to make college education free as institutions of higher learning have already lost their central identity. Sometimes back, universities were defined by the goals of instruction and research. However, times and things have changed. Universities are now lost and distracted in a sea of competing and conflicting interests (Samuels, 2013). The moment an institution of learning loses sight of its major goal, it ventures into unnecessary interests. When a college is distracted from its main mission, it increases costs while decreasing education quality. The more American universities spend on education, the more they lower the quality and standard of education. Many colleges in America are now competing on faculties they offer, the number of students they admit, and the rank or reputation they have when compared to others. Instead of focusing on providing quality education, colleges are increasing tuition fees to make them prestigious and recognizable in the country.
In summary, college education needs to be free to increase the chances of students getting jobs, enable them to focus on their studies fully, lower the student loan debt, and to regain the lost central identity of higher education institutions. Every other year, American colleges, and universities increase their cost of education on claims that they want to increase and improve their facilities and better the quality of education. The increase in college fees has sent students and parents into stressful financial struggles as everyone wants to attend college and earn a degree. When the issue of increased college fees is analyzed critically, it is clear that it has significant effects that far outweigh the benefit that parents and students get.
References
Hamilton. R, M. (2018). Should a College Education Be Free? Michigan: Greenhaven Publishing LLC.
Samuels. R. (2013). Why Public Higher Education Should Be Free: How to Decrease Cost and Increase Quality at American Universities. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.