College Mindy Babbit Analysis

Recently there has been a lot of debate about the importance of college education. Students are asking if it’s worth the debt to attend a four year university or community college. Some are thinking what are the benefits of a degree is in the workforce. With college tuition increasing and state fundings lowering, low income students are struggling to attain a higher education. College institutions should have a role to provide students higher education and equal opportunity to students to increase social mobility yet intergenerational reproduction of privilege has produced inequality in education.

There is no escaping the fact that the cost of college tuition continues to rise in the United States each year. To make it worse, having a college degree is no longer an option, but a requirement in today’s society. According to data gathered by the College Board, total costs at public four-year institutions rose more rapidly between 2003-04 and 2013-14 than they did during either of the two preceding decades (Collegeboard.com). Students are pressured to continue into higher education but yet, the increasing costs of books and tuition make us think about twice. Sometimes, some of these students have to leave with their education partially finished, leaving them with crushing debts. It is important to find the means to prevent these

Throughout the USA college tuition has increased drastically; in the last five years Georgia colleges have had 75% increase along with other states such as Arizona whose tuition has increased by 77% (NPR). Since 2006 the tuition in Utah has increased by 62.8% and is rising throughout the U.S. (Desert News). Between 1885-2016 the price of college has increased between 2.1% to 4.3% per year beyond inflation (CollegeBoard). Through calculations, that equates to about a hundred precent increase since 1885. It’s no secret that college tuition has skyrocketed, increasing student debt and leaving prospective students to ask “Is College Worth It?” college education is beneficial in that it teaches students valuable life lessons in responsibility, prepares students to enter the workforce and can be relatively inexpensive. The eduction is “college education” is worth every penny but America has created clichés to define the college experience which are expensive and unnecessary. In a radical new world a college education is required in many high paying jobs, which leads to the question “Is the experience of college all it is built up to be?” Through recent research, many articles and news mention about the value of higher education seem to only take account of is the financial aspect. A college education is worth what one makes it and is an investment in a future and in one’s self. The purpose of college the education is to be prepared to go into a the workforce having gained the

As a recent analysis, America’s colleges and universities are quietly shifting the burden of their big tuition increases onto low-income students, while many higher-income families are seeing their college costs rise more slowly, or even fall” (Eskow). Though education is the basic human right, most of the people in the U.S. are not being able to gain it as because of its rising cost. Since the 1970s, tuition and fees at public institutions have increased by more than 350 percent, while pay for working- and middle-class households has stagnated. As a result, the cost of a public-college education now accounts for almost 15 percent of the average family's annual income; 40 years ago it was about 4 percent (Kenneth W. Warren and Samir Sonti). The tuition and fees are increasing in such a way that the young Americans aren’t as educated as the young citizens of many other developed countries. The U.S. ranks 14th in the world in the percentage of 25-34 year-olds with higher education (42%).” When all adults of working age are considered, the US is still one of the highest-educated countries in the world. But when this age group is considered, we are falling behind (Richard Eskow). That’s the personal loss for the young people of the U.S. Education is not a privilege of the rich and well-to-do; it is the inalienable right of every people. It is a powerful tool by which people can lift

College is a dream that almost every American wants to come true, however, with the extreme rise in the costs of tuition it is a dream that has quickly turned into a nightmare. “Tuition at a private university is now roughly three times as expensive as it was in 1974, costing an average of $31,000 a year; public tuition, at $9,000, has risen nearly four times,” (Davidson). “For the average American household that doesn 't receive a lot of financial aid, higher education is simply out of reach,” (Davidson). That is why many students have begun questioning the worth of a college degree and if the amount of debt that is received upon exiting college is all for the better. And considering that costs have risen much faster than the rate of inflation, many are starting to believe that college just isn 't necessary any more. However, according to White, economically, the answer would still be a yes. “While unemployment rates for new grads and experienced workers alike have fluctuated throughout the recession and recovery, the earnings premium that college-and advanced-degree holders enjoy over their peers who didn 't attend college has remained relatively stable, and in some instances, grown, according to the report that was released this week,” (White). A study was shown that many college grads are able to get earnings that are significantly higher than those who did not get enough education or only hold a high school diploma (White). Even

A major problem for today’s high school graduates is the rising price in college education. Attending college can add up really fast; it can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars per year (Barkan 1). No wonder, in Steven Barkan’s book of social problems, issues and problems in higher education take up a full chapter. In this chapter, Barkan states that only 44% of all students who attend a four-year institution is lucky enough to have annual tuitions and fees amount to less than $9,000 per year. The aggravating question is, “why does college cost so much?” Not only is tuition part of the cost of college but also fees housing and meals, books, school supplies, and accessories (“What’s the Price Tag” 1). All tuition covers is the money for academic instruction. Fees are charges for specific services such as, internet access, and then the cost of books and school supplies add up. Additionally, one is not paying just for textbooks but also

College is one of the biggest financial burdens in today’s society for many. Since the recession, people often ponder what the best financial options for students looking to go to college are and what path they should take to get them there. Mike Rose, faculty member at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Karen Lawrence, the president of Sarah Lawrence College, have both written articles about this epidemic stating the advantages and some possible downsides to pursuing a higher education. During these articles, the two writers are trying to persuade their intended audience that college is an option that could be beneficial for them to take advantage of. They both have different

College graduates can pull in higher paying employers, therefore the states can benefit by earning money off of these employers. Some children’s families cannot manage to help pay for the fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, and personal/transportation expenses, even with the pell grants and other scholarships being offered to them. Sixty percent of college students stress about not having enough money to pay for school, the other percentage are worried about not having enough to pay their monthly expenses on top of school (“College”). This in return may put a burden on society from becoming booming with well advanced and bold civilians due to the lack of interaction with college level wisdom. Student’s should all have a chance at further promoting their lives to flourish at what they believe they want to become, without having to deal with the later emotional struggles of money. Although graduates may pull in higher paying employers, the

It should be common sense that those who work hard in school and achieve academically should be rewarded with the opportunity to attend better universities in our field of study. When Caldwell seeks advice from her friends on Facebook, the issue of attending the University of Wisconsin or Rutgers University is controversial. Although some argue that her son should attend Wisconsin “debt be damned”, others contend that the debt is not worth it and he should settle for Rutgers and transfer later if he desires. My view is that debts should be avoided when possible, but people should not be punished for their achievements in the education system. The harsh costs of further education limit the abilities of many middle class people, such as home ownership, job opportunities, and financial independence. Achievement and success should not be limited by being born into a family that provides a decent standard of living. The middle class is being left behind in the wake of budget cuts and higher tuition because many people earn too much to be considered for need based aid and are also incapable of affording skyrocketing tuition, room and board, and many of the other required expenses of higher education without sacrifice and looming loans. The insights of Deborah Caldwell into the costs of college are disappointing because it is just the story of one family that is facing the expense of a necessary part in a child’s education. The decision to accept financial burden to attend a prestigious program or for financial stability and a mediocre experience is a difficult one that society has forced man to make. The values of a community are reflected in their policies, and many across the country have realized the harm of slashing college aid programs. It is important

Education requires hard work and dedication. It can prepare an individual for life in many ways although it cannot guarantee their future. Education is a gamble. In a recent study, about 44 million Americans are in student loan debts averaging over 1.5 trillion (find citation). Moreover, 45% said it was not worth it (find citation). Student loan debts have caused people to quit their job or even go part-time. Consequently, the total cost of college can equal to missing wages and advancements. With further studies, the cost of four years of missed wages from a full-time job, amount to 49,000 and 20,000 for two years (find citation). So, think about it, is it worth it? Is it worth the stress and anxiety one can obtain by not being financially stable due to student loan debts? At hand, there are many successful opportunities; it's just a matter of hard work and dedication that the individual puts in to be

That being said, as a college student today there is no bigger problem I face than debt. A problem which I am constantly reminded of every 3 months at the beginning of each term, and will be for years long after college. As a first-generation student coming from a low-income family a college education is highly spoken of, and always associated when brought up with a well paying job.

Evidence shows that education is vital to increasing students’ chances of financial stability in the future; however, because of the cost of college, it is out of reach for many, or leaves students in debt after graduation; threatening countless young adults’ futures and continuing to marginalize low-income families. According to the US Department of Education, an approximate two-thirds of jobs in 2020 will require a post-secondary education (“College Affordability”). As more and more jobs require a college education, the range of jobs prospective high school graduates can enter without a college education is severely limited. In addition, there is almost always a wage gap between those who have a college education and those who do not, meaning that those who are employed in jobs without a bachelor’s or higher degree rarely earn as much (“College Affordability”). For an individual seeking a larger range of stable jobs in the future, attending college is usually necessary. However, the price of college often puts it out of reach for many students, even in middle-class families. US Census Bureau data shows that the median income of US families in 2014 was $53,657 (meaning half the population earned below this amount and half above) — but according to national educational statistics, the average cost of attending university in California, including room and board and typical fees, was $21,029 in 2013 (“Regions by Mean”; “Average Undergraduate Tuition”). For

The unattainable “American Dream” seems to be becoming even more of a fantasy as the rising costs of collegiate education deter many from pursuing higher education. Student loan debt is now creeping to an average of $30,000 and there appears to be no end to this rising number. Lower income families find themselves unable to send their children to college without a major financial impact. These kids who are hoping to get a degree of their own, to help support themselves and those they love, struggle to make ends meet as they pay off their loans. College expenses are far too expensive for students because scholarships lag behind tuition fees, the middle class struggles to receive the financial aid it needs, and universities in general believe that they can raise the price of tuition due to the increasing amount of government aid to education

The cost of higher education is constantly rising and does not look to be stopping anytime soon. However, many individuals are concerned about the increasing cost and have little understanding as to why these costs are increasing despite the increasing revenue stream of many colleges and universities. Additionally, taking in consideration the current cost compared to the past 5 to 10 years is very important when addressing this issue. As the cost of a college degree increases it is becoming harder and harder for the average American family to afford going to college. There are several things to be considered and discussed in this paper including; why is a college education important? What factors have been driving the large rise in tuition

Kraft and Furlong (2013) suggest that “one of the major arguments for supporting education generally is the belief that it is the great equalizer within U.S. society” (p. 369). There are constantly two sides of a contention. Here in the United States, individuals trust that education is the one of the best way to keep up developing nations. It’s a known idea that advanced education measures up to higher compensations and more open doors. In any case, the issue is that the normal cost of advanced education is more than an individual can bear the cost of for a long time at a state college. Along these lines, many believe that the government should offset the cost of college (Sakamoto and Chapman, 2011). While there are others that trust that the legislature shouldn't pay for school. Ziguras and McBurnie (2015) uncover that college educations are discretionary and it takes a family and a group to make the correct circumstance for students to go to college through various scholarship opportunities and student loans. The authors additionally propose that unfortunate, students through a byproduct of human nature, the individuals who get a free ride are likewise less inclined to esteem the education as opposed to working for it. Regardless of the arguments, Kraft and Furlong (2013), express that “although higher education costs and funding provoke considerable debate, the value of a college