Should College Be Free: Pros and Cons

While free college sounds appealing and straightforward, the reality of providing a completely free college-level education can cause future conflicts and affect Americans, of all different incomes, today. In the article, It’s Time to Push for Free College published by NEA, Max Page and Dan Clawson claim many people cannot attend college because the extremely high tuition fees and want to avoid creating burden on their families with thousands of dollars of debt. Additionally, they explain that, similarly to grades K-12, college should be a necessity because earning a degree is passageway to a happy, stable life. On the contrary, implementing free college for all citizens would eliminate the original value of earning a degree, significantly raise American taxes for all different household incomes, and, finally, cause a decrease in student dedication and success.

First of all, people enroll in college for many reasons, but the biggest one is getting a degree in a job field fit for the individual and setting yourself apart from others in that field. One’s educatio
n can only take them so far, and the possibility that so many people will have the same one, there will not be enough room to find employment. The Gallup-Lumina Foundation conducted a survey results found that only 4 in 10 Americans agree that colleges are actively changing to meet the needs of students. Moreover, 13 percent of subjects felt that college graduates are “well-prepared for success in the workforce.” Based on these results, the quality of a higher-level education will most likely decrease and having a degree will be more common and less unique to potential employers.

Furthermore, creating a government system where free college exists would cause a significant raise in American taxes; in fact, the estimated cost of this project is $47 billion a year (Wellman 2017). Additionally, the American public simply cannot afford it, a key concept is entitlement. If a free college tuition program was implemented into taxes and an individual graduated from their “dream” school, they get a job, and, most importantly, they will pay taxes. Over their lifetime, they will have to pay for not only the education the government had given them, but many other tuitions as well. Covering the full tuition at all universities and community colleges would mean middle-income and some upper-income students would receive sizable subsides, even though many do no need the help. Meanwhile, students with lower income would still not have the luxury to afford the non-tuition costs, such as books, supplies, transportation, and rent for those who live on campus.

Finally, Page and Dawson claim that free college would guarantee an increase in college graduates; however, a study conducted in 2003 examined full-time college students revealed that 54 percent of the lowest income quartile did not earn a degree within six years. James Rosenbaum, an education policy researcher at Northwestern University, interviewed 80 formers 2-year college graduates many who prioritized partying and exerted little effort in school. The participants consistently told Rosenbaum that paying for college made them grow up and work harder. Paying tuition – a relatively small or large amount – seemed to help reveal a new identity as a responsible student. European studies have also suggested that students who pay for their tuition exert greater achievements and are more likely to graduate on time.

In conclusion, the problem is not access but completion; instead, policy makers should focus giving all institutions a real investment in their student’s success.