I am sure that we have all sat through a financial aid meeting. Whether it be before we started college or maybe after college as we begin to sort through paying those pesky school loans. Regardless of the time and place, without a doubt the thought, “The price of college is ridiculous. It would be better off free,” has crossed your mind.
In reality, free college may be the worst decision our government could make, or it could be the best decision our government could make. On average, the cost of college in 10 years has increased 500 percent; compared with wages which have increased only 140 percent in the same time (cnn.com). This number may seem a bit outraging. So here are some points as to why "tuition-less" college may (or may not) be a good idea:
- Here’s some food for thought: if college tuition was non-existent, then there would be no one to clean our campuses, supply our meals or even provide housing for that matter. We would be given very low quality professors, and imagine going through college without a counselor or registrar. Our education would be valued at close to nothing. This would then have a lasting impact on the value of our degree.
- If college was free, would it likely be treated like college? Probably not. It would just be an even bigger group of older teenagers coming together to sit in class and sleep on the same campus which then would not be taken seriously.
- Free college means higher taxes. President Obama has recently proposed a free community college tuition plan for students with a GPA of at least 2.5. If college is free for the students then that means the citizens will have to pay for it through more tax dollars.
- Supplying a two year secondary education at no cost would change the mentality of college from a luxury to an "integral part of citizenship". This mentality would allow students of all backgrounds to develop a sense of confidence about their education, resulting in better grades and possibly even an improved social and mental health.
- Free education would no doubt open doors for students who feel trapped because of a low monetary supply. A two year degree can easily get an individual a job as a physical therapist assistant, web developer, hygienist, or even a nuclear technician. (businessinsider.com)
- A free education has the potential to teach young adults the value of money and the value of an education. After their time at a two year school they may come to a realization that they had just been given an amazing opportunity and then use that realization to go on and do amazing things in the world.
Again, I ask: Does cheap college
