Cost of College Controversy Essay

College is becoming increasingly expensive, ranging from 60,000 dollars to around 10,000 dollars. In the United states, 75% of people feel that “college is too expensive”(Source F). But to what extent should money rule an individual's life? The same survey also reported that 86% of people feel as though “college has been a good investment for them personally.” (Source F) This statistic proves that money should not control the life of an individual because although college is expensive a vast majority of people enjoy it. A college education not only prepares someone for a career in the future, but allows academic experimentation, higher pay as an adult and teaches students skills that young adults with only a high school degree may lack.

College has become a norm in today’s society so much so, that the average costs of higher education are not really discussed. A public two-year in-district college was $3,520 for a full-time undergraduate student in 2016-2017 (Baum 68). Baum also declares that a public four-year in-state undergraduate tuition was $9,650; a public four-year out-of-state college cost $24,930; a private nonprofit four-year college costs $33,480; and a for-profit college cost $16,000 for that same school year. (68). Across the nation, figures will vary because of the obvious geographical region differences, but also because of price discrimination. Price discrimination allows institutions to discount their prices for a lot of students (Baum 79). Institutions do this based on individual student circumstances, and it segments the market. Institutions

Over the past decade, it has become evident to the students of the United States that in order to attain a well paying job they must seek a higher education. The higher education, usually a college or university, is practically required in order to succeed. To be able to attend these schools and receive a degree in a specific field it means money, and often a lot of it. For students, the need for a degree is strong, but the cost of going to college may stand in the way of a successful future. Each year the expense of college rises, resulting in the need for students to take out loans. Many students expect to immediately get a job after graduation, however, in more recent years the chances for college graduates to get a well paying job

Each year, college tuition increases more and more, which makes getting a higher education almost impossible for some people. According to Pay it forward written by Catherine Morris tuitions and fees at public four-year institutions has been increasing an average of 3.4 percent each year between 2005 and 2015.

A "moderate" college budget for an in-state public college for the 2015–2016 academic year averaged $24,061. College is an extremely costly experience that limits most people from not coming into the graduation range due to the debts they would never be able to pay back throughout their life. Community colleges should have a free tuition so that upon attending, lower debt on students, a healthier lifestyle, community improvement, availability, and a smarter country may be implemented with the students.

There are simple ways that colleges can lower the cost to students, solutions that may not change the entire higher education system, but changes that certainly will help. In their article, “Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission?”, Andrew Hacker and Claudia Driefus, professors at Queens College of the City of New York and Columbia University respectively, attempt to lay out several solutions to ‘fix’ college for the benefit of students. One of their first cost-related proposals is to do away with the tenure system. “Professors who possess [tenure] have no reason to improve their teaching, take on introductory courses, or, in fact, accept any tasks not to their liking” (181). With the removal of tenure, longtime professors who are paid astronomical amounts will be subject to the same scrutiny as all other professors, and when professors who are no longer teaching well are removed, professors with smaller payroll and better teaching credentials can take their places, both giving students a better education and lowering its cost. Another of Hacker and Driefus’s proposals is to lower the salaries of the presidents of colleges. “Presidents needn’t take vows of poverty, but do they really need quasicorporate stipends to take the job?” they point out (182). Million or even

In light of the vast and increasing amount of complaints that the cost of college is too “expensive”, although true since the cost of college has increased by an exponential amount since the days such were established, the monetary value of any college in general is built upon various necessities to which these college shall offer (i.e. room and board, books, meal, etc.) (Issue & Controversies). Not only do these main components contribute to the growth of student debt but the tuition of the school plays a part as well. Schools install tuitions within their teaching programs in order to fund for a variety of resources. The teachers for one are the fundamental part of this payment process since most universities attempt to hire and rehire the best staff available to them in order to provide a healthy

Nowadays, we are always bombarded with the constant studies that show the economic benefits of going to college. For example, one study suggests that the average earnings gap for a high school graduate and someone with a bachelor’s degree working full time is about $15,000 (Owen and Isabel 210). But, all these sources only focus on the economic benefits and they make it seem that the only way to succeed. However, they don’t mention as much the possible negatives and that it might not be for everyone. The biggest obstacle, especially for the lower class students is the high cost of tuition. Which has caused student loan debt to become the second highest form of debt in the U.S, surpassed only by mortgage debt (Owen and Sawhill 212). Even if the student figures that out then there’s the problem of finishing school. Studies show fewer than 60% of students finish their 4-year degree within 6 years, if they finish at all (Owen and Sawhill 218). Then for those who do obtain their degree there’s the

Students coming out of college are faced with many problems, and one of those problems is massive debt. According to several online sources the average yearly cost of a public college in the United States is between 23,000 and 35,000 dollars.1 That averages out to about $116,000, over a 4-year school period. These figures do not include the cost of a graduate school nor living expenses. Granted most make payments or have them made for them on the interest during

That amount could double over the years with interest. Colleges are sending out their graduates with an already incurring debt with most of them having not had a full time job yet. The average cost of tuition had increased by almost 6.5% in 2009 and that's just with public college, most private universities went up an astounding 4.4% which is about 3.8% above what it used to be (“College Tuition Costs”). Colleges are upping their prices to compete with today's demands of more modern dorms, more security, and better food. These demands are costing the students they are trying to become better

In today’s world there are few things more important to obtaining a good career and being successful in life than acquiring a college degree, but this increased importance on getting a degree has also coincided with a large increase to the financial cost of obtaining one. This majority of this cost comes from ever increasing tuition rates and the rising price of textbooks, neither of which appear to be slowing down. Additionally, as the financial burden of attending college continues to grow, the students who are being forced to shoulder the majority of these costs are acquiring large amounts of debt due to college loans or simply foregoing a college education altogether. As the cost of education nears a breaking point, we must ask ourselves what measures we can take to improve the situation.

In today’s society, it is said that having a college degree will have long term benefits. However, for some people, they wonder if college is worth it. The reason why is because of the cost of attending college. Unlike public schools, going to college is not free. Being able to attend a four-year accredited college with scholarships is almost deemed a miracle. Being able to choose which school to fit in your price range is almost heart breaking. The cost of attendance will increase based on accreditation and location. You cannot pay for college with cash money alone. With the help of financial aid, students are given money based on their parent’s income. For some low poverty students, the hopes of getting financial aid is their way to college. For others, parents set aside a trust or college fund to give to their children. Another way students pay for college is through scholarships that they earn locally, through the state, or even on a national scale. However, when the scholarships run out, a student is forced to take out student loans, and the steps after taking the money are not told until after graduation. The student debt rate is overwhelming in this country. No one wants to talk about it because it is being swept under the rug.

There has not been a financial challenge I've faced in my life that amounts to the one that I face as a financially independent college student. In highschool they emphasize the idea of getting accepted into college, but never on how do you stay in college. All my life it has been considered ideal and fairly simple to go to high school, then to college, and from there you’ll be fine. I believed that it would be as simple as getting a plethora of scholarships and grant money. I believed loans,if any, would be easily obtainable and not a big deal. The cost of college is far greater than I could ever imagine. You see, the financial cost is one burden, but let us consider the by products of the financial burden of college. There is the physical cost, the mental cost, the social cost, etc.

In today’s generation society pushes you to go to college. Throughout middle school and especially high school, educators, guardians, and friends are always asking students where they’re going to college and what their plans are. Students are pressured into choosing a college and a profession at such a young age and students will often change their mind part way through. Through, that entire time students are squandering their opportunity, as well as spending so much cash. College is far more costly than students and guardians think and they don’t realize debt will form and money will become an issue. College is expensive now, but the price of college goes up every year. Tuition needs to be brought down for college students, so they don't need to battle paying their bills and taxes, while additionally staying out of debt.

Attending a four-year full-time college has its various opportunity costs, but people still end up attending them. College in America is an expensive investment. The average cost of college is an estimate of $30,000 for a student in a private college while it is approximate $8,000 for a student in a public college as a state resident and approximately $22,000 for an out of state student attending a public college.