College education should be free to guarantee that those from whatever financial background would not be compelled to lack the opportunity to go to college. The major political candidate’s pledge to give college education for free provides a major advantage to society as it creates a highly educated working force from which development will stem. This action would save students from one distracting worry: how they will repay their expensive loans for their studies or how to pursue their career path without a mountainside of debt to join the society and the workforce later. Free tuition in college will help realize equality and make class mobility possible, thus giving people from all strata a chance to attend college if they wish to improve their financial choices. Spending money on education is investing in our future, and giving tuition away for free would be the best start for our country. This essay argues that college should be free by highlighting the societal benefits such as evasion of poverty, promoting equality and creating a knowledgeable society.
One barrier that prevents students who need more financial resources from getting a better education is the high cost of college tuition fees. Making college education completely free would be the greatest opportunity for those who want to do so. This will grow the number of college students and give breakthroughs to the clients to be professional in what they want to do, along with acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills. College education can be a very heavy financial load many families need help carrying. Along with this come the huge financial strains for parents and students. Thus, they are forced to put their minds on this issue instead of focusing on their education. Because the existing college system leaves numerous learners with significant debt, students’ options are limited. They may select a major they are not particularly fond of because it offers a greater future wage. They could attend a less-than-ideal institution since it is less expensive. They may take fewer chances later in life due to their debt. High amounts of debt deter people from establishing businesses, relocating to another area in pursuit of better work possibilities, or changing careers. Eliminating student loan debt solves these challenges, which helps both students and the economy.
Education is a matter of great investigation in terms of social mobility increase. This measure will be impactful in terms of prospective students with limited incomes gaining higher education, promoting the betterment of their economic situation. Education conveys information and skills and develops social and cultural capital, which influences a person’s social mobility. Social capital is defined as the relationships, connections, and social ties that people form due to their time in college. These relationships can provide access to work opportunities, mentorships, and vital social resources, allowing upward mobility. Comparably, schooling exposes students to cultural resources such as art, literary works, musical performances, and other artistic expression, giving them the tools to traverse different social situations and communicate with others from all backgrounds.
Student debt is a big problem for many students. Providing college education for free would eliminate the requirement for students to borrow money to pay for their schooling, so the graduates may not be able to burden themselves with some debts and free themselves to participate in society debt-free. Free college scholarships are often confined to 2-year universities. To empower low-income students, states should offer free 4-year college programs that allow them to pursue the education that best meets their requirements.
States should create clear qualifying rules that align with their purpose and goals. GPA criteria may be appropriate for certain programs, but they contradict the mission of free college, which aims to make education inexpensive and accessible to all students. By tracking and breaking down data on program participation and results by race and wealth, states may learn from their free college programs and improve them to better serve students in need.
According to Musil (2009), society must consider education one of the fundamental rights and treat all equally and fairly. Achieving a college education for all persons would be one of society’s main responsibilities and the best way to make it universally available. Higher education can provide graduates with the necessary civic involvement skills. To attain this purpose, the academy must refocus its goals and review its offers to incorporate personal and social responsibility as essential to every student’s college education. Students must learn to discern the connections between regional and worldwide fortunes, to detect when unfairness is the standard, and to chronicle the consequences of unquestioned institutions that perpetuate unsettling inequities. They must also develop civic skills to rise and believe their efforts are worthwhile.
Free college would assist in addressing historical injustices. Suppose one’s ancestors all had the chance to attend college. In that case, one is far more likely to have the same chances, both because of cumulative net worth across centuries and because attending college is anticipated in the family. Many Americans cannot participate in college since Generations before them had no chance. Free college would assist in addressing years of unfairness. Families who can afford to pay for some or all of the college expenses may want to take advantage of free tuition at a public institution. In effect, government officials and citizens would be supporting the wealthy. Critics of free education who point to this disadvantage frequently claim that a more focused reform subsidizing college for middle-class and poor individuals would be more appropriate.
Some detractors of free college argue that executing would be prohibitively expensive. If one opposes rising taxes, they probably do not support the free college. However, because many governments have reduced their higher education budgets, opponents wonder how the money will be collected to provide free college. Some opponents of the free college concept say it would result in a flood of graduates with substandard qualifications vying for a restricted number of positions. To stand out from the masses, these opponents contend, devoted workers must acquire a doctorate. This would cost money and lead to credential creep. Some critics of free education say that the federal government should not subsidize degrees in fields that are unlikely to lead to a good career. They could be willing to subsidize studies in STEM fields but not theatrical degrees. These opponents would rather have a more specialized scheme that offers pupils fewer options.
Providing free education at a higher level can be counted among several benefits. Equity access is one of the program’s main purposes since it allows for an opportunity for every student, irrespective of socioeconomic status. Paying tuition fees has no justification for low-income groups that cannot afford it as they can still access great education. It is necessary that with this, there will be a more educated and technically skilled workforce, which is highly productive for the nation’s economy. Firstly, it will introduce the possibility for recent graduates to ease off the financial burden of student loan repayments, which, in turn, will allow them to devote their energies to employment, ultimately augmenting the country’s economy. Despite all, one of the conspicuous merits of free learning is that it may open the door to a more educated society with higher social mobility and a smaller class disparity. However, the effects could turn out either positively or negatively in both the individuals and the society as a whole in the broader sense.
In conclusion, education is one of the best tools for societal betterment. It enables people to strive to attain information, qualities and beliefs that would help them live fulfilling lives while they give back to their society. One of the ironies of the modern world is that though rich in knowledge, financial constraints stop people from achieving the same standard of education or from having equal access to it. Education is free of charge for everyone because education is one of the basic human rights that is also an indispensable service to people, creating a sense of individuality and a mutual benefit to society. Through free education, every person can gain solid academic knowledge and self-improvement regardless of their economic status. In addition, it raises the chances for progression in the economy by promoting equality and increasing the gross domestic product (GDP) through training and qualifying people for productive jobs.
References
Hansen, K. (2020, February). How States Can Solve the Student Debt Crisis: A Framework for Reducing Student Debt Burdens for Present and Future Borrowers. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/PDF
Musil, C. M. (2009). Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility: The Civic Learning Spiral. Retrieved from https://uwosh.edu/usp/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2019/12/Jacoby_CivicEngagement_31.pdf
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