Final Research Paper - Why College Should be Free PDF

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Free College - Replacement Research Paper
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Spencer 1 Econ 1740 Free College - Replacement Research Paper In the 21st century, a college diploma is essential and vital in order to ensure success in today's economy. Young and even old aspiring students will continue to pursue a college diploma even if it means being hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. The price of college education is not suitable and attractive to a majority of aspiring Americans. With free education, people from low income statuses will now be able to educate themselves to contribute to society while making a sustainable living, without financially being in debt. College Education should be free and available for all to educate the public, provide an equal learning opportunity for all, and to ease the financial burden on families & students. With the evolution of America and the rapid changes good or bad that is surfacing today, making college education free is slowly on the rise. Many think it's time to make college free and accessible to all, to further educate everyone in America. The cost of college is at its peak during this day of age and as the years go on, it has only been increasing more. Even  though the cost of college continues to rise, the 1862 Morrill Act e nhances the idea of reducing the price. Carol Christ an  honorable scholar of Victorian literature and also the director of the Center for Studies in Higher Education s tates that the  Morrill Act of 1862  was also known as the Land Grant College Act. It was a major boost to higher education in America. The grant was originally set up to create and establish institutions in each state that would educate people in agriculture, home economics, mechanical arts, and other professions that were practical at that time (Christ

Spencer 2 1). She also believes the 1862 Morrill Act   promotes liberal and practical education to pursue the various professions in life (Christ 2). A college education will enable many jobs and professions in the world to be available for many. Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders wants to take the next step towards innovation and to another level. Sanders has proposed a plan similar to the “Morrill Act”, that would eliminate undergraduate tuition at public colleges and universities. Sanders believes that with making college education free, “Our children can achieve higher success and our families will no longer be crushed by student debt” (Advertisement Commercial). He knows that college can leave families with overwhelming debt and sympathizes for these families. With that being said, Sanders wants to lift the crushing debt that is weighing heavily on families by providing an unchallenging and light cost for them. Like Bernie Sanders who wants to moderate the cost of college, former two-term president Barack Obama has proposed America’s College Promise Program ; a program that would help create and develop free college education for Americans across the nation who meet certain academic benchmarks and requirements. Scholarly  researcher and author of the educational website Diverse: Issues of Higher Education ,  Catherine  Morris recently wrote and discussed how the White House announced “Promise Programs” which include a $100 million dollar budget that will be funded by the government to get started towards free college education (Morris 5). After this announcement, roughly around 27 states and cities have announced “Promise Programs” of their own that they will start up themselves (Morris 6). However,  there are already community colleges and universities all over America that have these “Promise

Spencer 3 Programs” in full effect. As of now, there are more than a dozen states who offer a free college based system and with this new $100 million dollar budget provided by the government, this number will only increase (Patton 3). There are certain requirements and standards that students must meet in order to qualify and be eligible for these free education programs. For example, the “Promise Programs” in Oregon and Tennessee require to be an in state resident, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and attend school full time (Patton 5). If  more states were to offer free successful college education programs like these “Promise Programs” college could be more accessible for all. Since free education isn’t available all throughout America, many young Americans find themselves grappling with the “new economy”. More  than half of college students take out loans leaving them in some serious amount in debt. It’s not helping that college tuition keeps increasing throughout the years (Best & Keppo 4). State and federal governments try to improve access to college education for young aspiring students across America through financial aid programs, but it's simply just not enough. Courtney  Clemmons a scholarly author for the U.S. Department of Education concluded, “The average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016–2017 school year was $33,480 at private colleges, $9,650 for state residents at public colleges, and $24,930 for out-of-state residents attending public universities” (2). These mind blowing numbers manifest that the costs of college is outrageously getting out of control and getting out of reach for families in America. The cost of college has always been outrageous, in fact since 1981, tuition costs have surpassed the rate of inflation. The graph below is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , which

Spencer 4 displays the continual rise in college costs compared to inflation (Clemmons 1-2). It  demonstrates America’s inflation from 1979-2010 and shows that the cost of college leads in increasing price over house prices, consumer prices, and wages.

With inflation rates continuing to rise, college tuition costs have many Americans across the nation wondering, why is college so expensive? So why is college so expensive? Well according to scholarly journalist David Aldridge, it’s because of supply and demand for U.S.  higher education measured by enrollment (3). With a college diploma, it can benefit employment levels and career earnings. Colleges and universities realize that they are vital in predetermining one's career success, so they feel like they are entitled to set tuition prices to whatever they

Spencer 5 please. Aldridge mentions, “Higher tuition prices increase appeal of higher education for students. Schools can use tuition prices to signal quality, and relative demand-side price in-elasticity allows them to raise prices” (3-4). Schools  and universities realize they are entitled to set the price to attend their school, so they will continue to raise their cost of admission until lawmakers and members of the United States congress set up rules and regulations. Due to the increase of college tuition over the past 40 years, higher education is becoming beyond reach for most Americans. Sure financial aid and grants are great, but they’re just not sufficient enough these days. The cost to go to college  is expensive and the price for it is outrageously getting out of control. For  many young students, after receiving their bachelor's degree, they will continue on to pursue their career. With a college degree, a lot more jobs are attainable that offer a more than substantial paycheck. However, marriage, kids, housing, and cars come into the equation. Now lets not forget the student loans that were taken out in order to attend college. College graduates become up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, that will need to be paid for the rest of your life. This is why  talks and innovative ideas of making college free and available to all surface. It’s difficult to afford college, especially without any financial burdens upon graduating. It’s no secret that college can be difficult to afford without any financial burdens, especially for people of poverty and low income statuses. People  that can’t afford college need to be given the opportunity to pursue a college degree. There are millions of young aspiring

Spencer 6 students across the nation from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and social statuses who would love to enchant themselves in post-secondary education, but because of heinous costs of tuition, college education becomes unfeasible for many. The  income gap between low-income working families and the nation's wealthiest working families is widening. In fact, in 2013 the low-income threshold for a family of four with two children make less than $40,000 a year (James 6). Frederick James a graduate from the prestigious Penn State University stated, “The total number of people in low-income working families now stands at 47.5 million and could reach 50 million in the next few years. That’s roughly equivalent to the total number of people living in California, Oregon, and Washington combined” (James 3). Since their are up to 50 million people of low-income working families that make less than $40,000 a year; How does congress and government officials expect plebeians to afford a college education that’s more than $24,930  a year for one-single student, while receiving a paycheck that is less than  $40,000  to support a family of four? It’s simply impossible. A family of four couldn't even live and survive off $40,000  a year, yet are still expected to afford a college education. Since low-income families earn a relatively inadequate amount of money, they are less likely to attend college because of the expenses and traumatizing debt that comes with it. Lawmakers and members of the United States Congress need to realize that they are making the American Dream out of reach and less attainable. This country is all about freedom, and prides itself on the slogan of the American Dream, yet government officials who work for the prosperity of our country become hypocritical. They are hypocritical in the sense that the

Spencer 7 American Dream should enable every single american across the nation, an equal opportunity towards success and prosperity. College is a facilitator of the American Dream towards longevity in success (Odland 2). Salman Khan a scholarly financial analyst who studied at Purdue University expressed, “On average, a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earns $30,000 more per year than a high school graduate, or about $500,000 more over a lifetime, as of 2013. While earning an associate's degree is worth about $170,000 more than a high school diploma over a lifetime” (Khan 5). This mind blowing statistic proves that college graduates relatively have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates. With a free college educational system, there will be higher employment rates and bigger salaries because of more successful skilled workers. Most advance jobs with a sufficient and steady paycheck require postsecondary education or training. Families composed of the less fortunate could finally go back to school and send their children to school to make a better and honest living for themselves. College education is a universal solution for more successful skilled workers. According to Catherine Morris a Harvard graduate where she studied history and literature believes, “ An investment by the government in a college education system will go a long way in increasing the proportion of our population who will be collegiately educated and will be able to contribute and influence society for the good” (Morris 4). Many intelligent people are denied the chance to help humanity for the good due to the greed of costs and financial burdens that come with college. Morris is trying to explain that an educated public will be a wise investment by the government because it will enable more skilled employment. America will begin to notice a rise in areas such

Spencer 8 as health technology, advanced manufacturing, information technology and a wide range of service job. Although a free education system in America would be beneficial for all, many could argue and challenge that a free college educational system wouldn't be a fit proposition in America. Many come up with the conclusion that it would end up hurting our country's economy due to the increase of taxes, or the value of a college diploma would decline. Lets face it, is anything really free? If college were free, somehow, someway the education would have to be paid for by someone. Sure, it is easy to look to congress and point the finger at our government to pay for this “free education”. Many americans jump to the conclusion that federal funding could lead to an increase in taxes and which means of course paying more money. Bernie Sanders mentions middle class families and how they help save Wall Street banks, and now it’s time for these Wall Street banks to return the favor (Advertisement Commercial). It’s a fact that Wall Street is the most economically powerful city and leading financial center in the world. Sanders has a plan to lower interest rates on student loans and tax Wall Street speculation. This plan appeals to American taxpayers, specifically the middle class. Bernie knows that the gap between the hardworking middle class and the upper class is widening, while the poverty class and middle class is shortening. Another great idea presented by Salman Khan a financial analyst for the educational  website, “The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid” is to collect funding from scholarships, pell grants, and financial aid programs (Khan). If free education was accessible and available for all, there wouldn't be any prerequisite for scholarships, pell grants, and financial aid programs, which means all this revenue could go towards aiding and funding free colleges.

Spencer 9 Nevertheless, Americans wouldn't’ have to worry about an increase in taxes because funding free college doesn't have to come from their own pockets naysayers would now put into perspective and imagine what it would be like if anyone could go to college. Many would believe there'd be so many slackers, failures, and free loaders who’d attend college with very little effort put into their school work. People could also believe that the value of a college degree could diminish simply because it is free and available to all. Thus people assume the value of a college degree would be, or almost equivalent to a high school diploma because anyone could receive it. For example, if more than 40% of the population would earn their bachelor’s degrees, then the value of the degree would decrease. This is simply because law of supply and demand. A bachelor’s degree guarantees a salaried white collar office job, because so few working Americans had a bachelor’s degree. However if 40% of our population had a bachelor’s degree, that's nearly 1 in 2 people. What would be so special about a college degree anymore? Although people could come to the conclusion that a college degree wouldn't hold it’s accolade or worth anymore, It’s crucial to remember that college is for those people that truly care for their education. If most students are unprepared for college, not serious and passionate about college, or merely just don’t have the desire to go to college. They would 1: not graduate because they are failing in their classes or 2: Simply just not go to college because it’s not suitable for them. Which of course would result into no college degree or diploma. Unlike college, high school is meant to give a very basic education to people. Unlike High school, college is an option that one can decide to take or leave behind and for those who really want to educate themselves further. Believers that think a college degree wouldn't be as valuable

Spencer 10 anymore because of a free education system need to remember that it would still require effort. Sure your education will be free, however college still requires effort, commitment, and dedication to earn a college degree or diploma. Schools and universities that offered free college could set standards and benchmarks to make sure people aren’t taking advantage of their free education. For example, something like maintaining a 2.8 GPA or having consistent grade checks could be incorporated to ensure free education is taken seriously. Thus, having a college degree will still maintain its value. It’s blatant and apparent that the cost of college is appalling and will continue to rise and increase if precautions aren't put into place. There’s no telling exactly when free education will be available for every public school in America. However with our growing economy, some community colleges already offering free college education. Congress members and lawmakers need to realize that with making free education available, America will produce more jobs, provide more skilled workers in different fields, while decreasing debts. An educated public and society is the best antidote for this country’s success.

Spencer 11 Works Cited

Aldridge, David. "Costs Are Putting College Education Out Of Reach." Civil Engineering (08857024) 79.1 (2009): 30. Academic Search Complete . Web. 11 Feb. 2017. Best, Katharina, and Jussi Keppo. "The Credits That Count: How Credit Growth And Financial Aid Affect College Tuition And Fees." Education Economics  22.6 (2014): 589-613. Academic Search Complete . Web. 12 Feb. 2017. Christ, Carol. “Higher education: Should college be free for all?” Berkley Blog . UC Berkeley, 23 May 2015. Web. 4 Feb. 2017. Clemmons, Courtney. “Weighing the Cost and Value of a College Decision.” Office of the Under Secretary. U.S. Department of Education, 24 July 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2017. Cubberley, Fran. "The Reality Of Free Community College Tuition." Journal Of College Admission 227 (2015): 21-23. Academic Search Complete . Web. 31 Jan. 2017. James, Fredrick.“Free College Education Today, Innovation Tomorrow.” Penn State University . WordPress, 19 July 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2017. Khan, Salman. “Colleges with Free Tuition.” FinAid . The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 7 Feb. 2017. Morris, Catherine. “White House Adding $100M Program to Tuition-free Community College Push.” Diverse: Issues of Higher Education. Diverse Education, 25 April 2016. Web. 6 Feb. 2017. Odland, Steve. “College Costs Out Of Control.” Forbes . Forbes Media LLC, 24 May 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2017. Patton, Carol. "Is Free Tuition Working?." Journal Of College Admission  232.(2016): 30-33. Academic Search Complete . Web. 31 Jan. 2017....