A college education is an education that is offered in college institutions and is widely regarded as an essential tool for achieving success in today’s society. Recently, it has become increasingly challenging for all students or individuals to get access to higher education due to the rapidly increasing tuition costs or fees and the burden of student debt loans. In the year 2008-2009, the full cost associated with attending a four-year university or private college was around $31,300, including accommodation, fees, and tuition, while the full cost of attending a public university or college was around $14,100 (Hout, 2012). When compared to 1981, the full cost has significantly increased by 125%. Tuition fees are the main cause of the increase for both private and public universities and colleges (Hout, 2012). This challenge has led to a growing debate between the government and other officials on whether college education should be made free to ensure that everyone willing to continue with his or her higher education can easily access this education regardless of their financial status.
For instance, in the United Kingdom (UK), widening participation and the value of money have been debated in recent higher education. Recently, the substantial cut into college and university has been triggered by this debate, forcing the student to make their arrangement payment for their college education by paying tuition fees of approximately £9000 per year, which the government claims is valuable for widening participation and for money while critics disagree(Oketch, 2016). In this paper, I contend that College education should be free for all individuals, regardless of their economic status, as it provides financial benefits, reduces student loan debt, promotes equal opportunity, and serves as an investment in the future of our society. However, some people might argue that it would be unfair to taxpayers to make college education free.
Firstly, a free college education would provide significant financial benefits to individuals or students, especially those who come from low-income families. In countries like the United States, approximately 70 percent of the guardians and parents, especially those from low-income families, are expressing concerns about how it has become difficult for them to finance college education for their children (Bell, 2020). The college promise, also referred to as the tuition-free college movement, has recently gained more support in response to these financial concerns; almost sixteen states by 2018 had already started implementing policies associated with a tuition-free college education (Bell, 2020). These 16 states have funded and enacted free college programs with more than 289 policies across the localities, regions, and states. This tuition-free college movement was established in 2015 by the president Obama Administration. America’s College Promise program was proposed by this administration through a $60 million-dollar with the aim of eliminating fee and tuition expenses for all the students who are in their first year and second year in community college (Bell, 2020). The tuition-free college movement has been seen to have many benefits, for instance, it addresses the increasing cost students, or individuals spend while in college, including tuition fees.
According to Bell (2020), .this movement has established guidelines for how the allocation should be done; for example, the guidelines state who should get a free college education and how and when he or she should get it. A tuition-free college policy, for instance, Oklahoma’s Promise, includes approximately $50,000 to be allocated to individuals or students who come from low-income families(Bell, 2020). However, Oklahoma’s promise excludes students who come from middle-class families, even if they are also struggling with finances to pay for their college education (Bell, 2020). These programs also cover the non-tuition for these students, and they cover the cost of the tuition for years students who spend in college at least four years (Michelmore & Owen,2018). These students might earn degrees or diplomas without stressing about the cost of paying for tuition, fees, and other educational expenses if colleges offered free college education.
These students would be relieved of their financial burden and able to spend most of their time and energy on their studies, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of college life since they would not need to work multiple jobs to cover expenses. Also, people from low-income families might be able to enter higher-paying professions with a college degree, which could enable them to achieve their basic needs without much struggle and achieve financial security. Hence, this might benefit their families and communities.
Secondly, a free college education would play an essential role in helping students reduces the loan debt that many face after completing their education. As a college education becomes more unaffordable, students, especially those who come from low-income families, mostly tend to rely on loans in order for them to survive in college and pay their peers. In such situations, you find that most students end up completing college with huge debts which they cannot repay(Jones & Berger, 2018). Other students who tend to rely on loans for their survival are the students of color; these students most likely borrow money from other students or take loans. Globally, student loan debt is approximately $1 trillion. Public opinion polls have shown considerable widespread about the usefulness of a college degree, and the “student debt crisis” has recently attracted a lot of media attention (Jones & Berger, 2018).
For example, research done in the United States shows that in only one of the surveys used to collect data, almost 42percent of Americans described that a degree and diploma from college institutions are not worthwhile due to various reasons such as poor job prospects and student debt (Jones, & Berger, 2018). Another research showed that many students do not attend college because of the high cost. One of the biggest sources of debt in the country today is student loans, which many people struggle to repay for many years after graduating. Making college tuition free would relieve this strain and free up people’s funds to use toward things like home purchases or company ventures. Harris et al. (2018) state that “free college “would lessen the stress and uncertainty associated with finances by doing away with the necessity for student loans. Students would no longer have to evaluate colleges based on cost or be concerned about possible price rises or reductions in financial aid prior to graduation.
Thirdly, free college education promotes equal opportunity, enabling people from all backgrounds to fulfill their aspirations by accessing higher education. Free college education can be a powerful tool for promoting equal opportunity by removing the financial barriers that many people face, especially those from low-income families. In the UK, due high cost of higher education, only 24% of individuals from low-income households have progressed to college and university (Harrison & Waller, 2018). Whereas a higher percentage of about 41% of the individual from high and mid-income have progressed to higher education (Harrison & Waller, 2018). This implies that only individuals from high- and mid-income families can easily secure a place in colleges compared to people from low-income families. Fair access and Widening participation have tried to encourage disadvantaged individuals by providing access to college education (Harrison, 2018). Students from all backgrounds can afford to attend college without having to take on major student loan debt to get a free college education. Giving all students an equal opportunity to obtain higher education and pursue their careers can help level the playing field.
Perna et al . (2017) states that in 2017 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo included an excelsior scholarship in the 2018 budget. The scholarship was to promote college education for students who come from families with low incomes. The eligibility of this scholarship was limited to only students whose parents or guardians earned about $100,00 or below annually in 2017, below $125,000 in 2019, and below $110,00 in 2018(Perna et al .,2017). This was billed as “the nation’s first accessible college program.” Students who were taking programs related to an associate degree were funded for two years, while students who were pursuing bachelor’s degree programs were funded for 4 or 5 years depending on the requirements of the program. This scholarship was supplemented by 20 other programs that were administered by the Higher Education Services Corporation in the state to provide a free college education. The tuition Assistance Program was one of the aid programs that focused on providing tuition grants of about t$5,165 (Perna et al .,2017). The excelsior scholarship and Tuition Assistance program promoted equal access to free college for students in New York.
Furthermore, making college education free would serve as an investment in the future society. Education is one of the important tools for the economic and social growth of the country. Investing in education has a positive impact on the country since it reinforces the growth and wealth of society, where individuals can improve their incomes, productivity, and personal efficacy (Madani, 2019). Secondly, making college education free increases the number of people who can access higher education; since these colleges offer different programs, this would result in a highly educated workforce. This could lead to increased economic growth and innovation.
Additionally, college graduates’ individuals are healthier and can participate in a democracy like they can vote (Jones & Berger, 2018). A free college education might increase civic engagement and democratic involvement by creating more knowledgeable and informed citizens. A more powerful democracy and better-informed policy decisions might result from this.
However, despite the fact that free college education has various benefits to particular individuals, families, and society at large, some people might argue that it would be unfair to taxpayers to make college education free. Those who argue against providing free college education frequently point out the significant expense that would be incurred by taxpayers. Some contend that offering free higher education would necessitate substantial public expenditure and may raise taxation on citizens. The value of a college degree may also be diminished, decreasing its value in the job market, according to opponents of a free college education. Oketch (2016) states that “free higher education is bad for access.” He further argues that it will not be pointless to expand higher education access even under the market system, which mainly produces graduates who are unable to communicate and think critically since such systems just cheat the families and the students
In summary, all individuals should have access to a free college education regardless of their financial situation because free education enhances their financial benefits, lowers their debt from student loans, fosters equitable opportunity, and is an investment in the future of our society. The cost of a college degree may be made free, but some could contend that this would be unfair to people who pay. How to increase investment in higher education should be considered by policymakers.
References
Michelmore, K., & Owen, S. (2018). Closing the Gap: The Effect of Targeted, Tuition-Free Promise on College Choices of High-Achieving, Low-Income Students.
Bell, E. (2020). The politics of designing tuition-free college: How socially constructed target populations influence policy support. The Journal of Higher Education, 91(6), 888-926.
Harris, D. N., Farmer-Hinton, R., Diamond, J., Blakely Reavis, T., Krupa Rifelj, K., Lustick, H., & Carl, B. (2018). The promise of free college (and its potential pitfalls).
Harrison, N. (2018). Using the lens of ‘possible selves’ to explore access to higher education: A new conceptual model for practice, policy, and research. Social Sciences, 7(10), 209.
Harrison, N., & Waller, R. (2018). Challenging discourses of aspiration: The role of expectations and attainment in access to higher education. British educational research journal, 44(5), 914-938.
Hout, M. (2012). Social and economic returns to college education in the United States. Annual review of sociology, 38, 379-400.
Jones, T., & Berger, K. (2018). A promise fulfilled: A framework for equitable free college programs.
Madani, R. A. (2019). Analysis of Educational Quality, a Goal of Education for All Policy. Higher Education Studies, 9(1), 100-109.
Oketch, M. (2016). Financing higher education in sub-Saharan Africa: some reflections and implications for sustainable development. Higher Education, 72, 525-539.
Perna, L. W., Leigh, E. W., & Carroll, S. (2017). “Free college:” A new and improved state approach to increasing educational attainment? American Behavioral Scientist, 61(14), 1740-1756.
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