Government Support In Higher Education

Universities used to be a privilege for most academic students to attend and it was very affordable, but currently the price per year to attend college has drastically increased. For instance, in the “1970’s the average cost was 10,000 dollars a year and today the average cost is 30,000 dollars a year” (CQ Researcher). This is a triple increase in the price per year to attend college. Allowing this increase on college tuition has impacted the student’s attendance rate. This is a significant financial burden for college students and their family. Some believe that college shouldn’t be free because we are risking the value of college education, while others think it should be free because we are trying to avoid having our upcoming generation

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

Colleges are noticing a drop in students’ interest in a higher education, because it forces them to fall into poverty. Obtaining a higher education is a dream of many working class citizens, but the price to go to a choice college is not available economically. The majority of students use some type of student loan, they have become the norm for attending college (Johnston, Roten 24). College is becoming unaffordable to many lower class students. With tuition prices this high, students are backing out of school and looking for jobs that only require a high school diploma. Student loans should help people, but it is only hurting them because they feel like they can never repay it. Especially since student debt continues to rise. “Student loan debt rose by 328 percent from $241 million in 2003 to $1.08 trillion in 2013, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York” (Johnston, Roten 25).

So it’s not that colleges are spending more money to educate students, it’s that they have to get that money from someplace to replace their lost state funding; and that’s from tuition and fees from students and families (Sanchez 1). While most institutions tried to keep costs down, some took advantage of the public perception that a high tuition means a quality education (Sanchez 2). The problems that students face now are rising tuition, increasing loans and lacking financial aid to compensate. The fastest growing income for public colleges and universities in our country is tuition. Most students must take out loans to make it through college now.

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

Financial barriers for higher education has climbed over the last ten years. Today, over 40 million Americans have student loans. Of these 40 million, most individuals are struggling to maintain payments on the loans (Hillary for America, 2016). Since 2004, the tuition for in-state colleges and universities has risen by about 42 percent and with the recent Great Recession, states have continued to decrease spending on higher education at a rapid rate (Hillary for America, 2016). It is estimated that states are only contributing around $1,805 per student, which is estimated to be 20 percent less than what was contributed only seven years’ prior. The federal government in

Today, the cost of attending many public colleges is so high that a lot of students simply can't afford to. As a result, far fewer students from lower-income

Statistics exhibit that majority of people are unable to pay for their further education. Pew Social and Demographic Trends state, “A majority of Americans (57%) say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with a good value for the money they and their families spend.” Tuition rates for colleges hyperbolizes its values comparatively to the money families spend. It also proclaims, “An even larger majority- 75%- says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.” College snatch away the money of American families at a value too high and too much for the average family to spend. Not only does college seize the money many family don’t have to begin with, but it forces families to go into debt. Working extreme hours and trying to pay for college wearies the family’s way of living. According to Pew Social and Demographic Trends, “A record share of students are leaving college with a substantial debt burden… about half say that paying off that debt made it harder to pay other bills… about a quarter say it has had an impact on their career choices.” Debts triggers a person to change their profession and causes hardships to their life in the future. High tuition rates and debts stir students away from college and jobs that they truly want. College acquire families money at an

“We all believe that every student in America deserves a fair shot at a higher education and a path toward the middle class,” Lawmakers agree on that statement. The crux is how to provide that fair shot. President Obama is “attempting to tackle the problem of skyrocketing higher education costs in the US” by passing a bill where states lessen the financial

College tuition has been increasing over the years and recent American college graduates have been in great debt. People have been debating over what the cause is for years, but there are two particular differing causes we’ll be focusing on. The Editorial Board is a very diverse staff of writers from USA Today who’ve had experience in journalism covering serious newsworthy topics and events and received degrees in journalism. According to the article, “Making College More Expensive”, the Editorial Board states that as a whole, American college students and graduates owe about $1.2 trillion. The democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley, have plans to make college affordable and aid students with their debt by making taxpayers pay more so that the money can go into Pell grants. Barmak Nassirian thinks otherwise. Nassirian is a nationally known policy analyst at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and a federal aid expert who serves as a voice on higher education issues. In his article, “Tell States to do Their Share”, Nassirian believes that state disinvestment is the cause of college tuition increase because public colleges are becoming privatized. The Editorial Board and Nassirian use the three major appeals to persuade the audience to their reasonings for the college affordability problem. They further their purpose by trying to prove to the audience that their point is valid.

As the presidential race approaches its zenith, the rhetorical Bernie Sanders, the crafty Hillary Clinton, and the bombastic Donald Trump lay their values, views, and optimistic visions for the future on the table, hoping the American people accept them. (make this sounds kind of sarcastically glamorous and loud and exciting). One of those, held prominently by Mr. Sanders proposes the eradication of college tuition. Published in the Washington Post, “Make College Free for All,” outlines the proposition of Sanders: “education is essential for personal and national well-being…hundreds of thousands of bright young people cannot afford to go to college… [and] leave school deeply in debt…it is time to…make colleges and universities tuition-free…All young people with the ambition and talent can reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances at birth” (Sanders). Ambitious and talented individuals living in the U.S., in light of the outrageous amount of available resources and contrary to Mr. the opinion of Sanders, ought to fund or contribute to their so-called “essential” college education. Clearly, this exemplifies the state into which America falls – sacrificing freedom for convenience and less effort. After all, once a government funds something, it ultimately controls it.

In America over the past decade, college tuition prices have gone through the roof. Many Americans today suffer with incredibly high debt, or they fear that they will not be able to pay off their debt, resulting in fewer people wanting to continue their education. Without citizens getting a higher education, America would be uneducated, which would result in America becoming neurologically nullified. Sarah Amandalore (2014), writer for the Los Angeles Times states in her article “The student loan crisis: How middle-class kids get hammered”, ‘The Delta Cost Project’ at American Institutes for Research examined rising college costs and concluded that, in recent years, a combination of state funding cuts, overspending by research universities and decreased donations have led to tuition spikes at both public and private schools” (pg. 1). When lower-income families are faced with these problems, it makes getting a higher education hard to reach. With a higher education, more life and job opportunities become available. By the government putting a limit on the amount colleges could raise their tuition, more people may opt to get a higher education. The fear of being in debt makes the idea of a higher education less valuable to many people. The government should restrict the tuition amount charged

(INTRO) During the recent Presidential Address in January, Barack Obama introduced a groundbreaking new idea; free community college. Upon approval, the proposal would provide all students in the United States who maintain a 2.5 GPA, go to school at least part-time, and make steady progress toward degree completion with free education (Community College Week, par. 16). As the world powers continue to improve education systems, the United States is undoubtedly falling more and more behind, and many believe that this program would be a good beginning to closing the educational gap with other nations. There is no debate that free college would change the educational “game” by allowing millions of students to access free college annually; however, many politicians doubt that the available resources (especially economically) are adequate to cover such a plan. (THESIS) America’s College Promise is merely a proposal designed to spark the conversation over higher education structure; the program is frankly impractical, as the detail and necessary

Education becomes a part of most every individual’s life starting at a very young age. A majority of children are introduced to preschool or kindergarten around three to six years of age and school becomes a major role in their childhood. The idea of education being the only pathway to lead to a happy successful life is burned into the mind of young students. After growing up with education being an important role in their life these, now adults, feel obligated to continue with a postsecondary form of education. At this point, individuals start to question if attending a college is worth the risk of a lifetime of student loan debt. They also try to decide whether or not a college degree will result in a more financially stable lifestyle or if they are better off going straight to the workforce. The price of college has increased dramatically throughout the years which causes talented individuals to believe going straight to the workforce is the only thing they can afford and profit off of. If the price of college is what is keeping talented individuals away then that issue should be fixed. Most people argue that college should be completely free or that the prices should be lowered. When considering how a change in price for attending college would affect tax payers, students, teachers, and the education quality it becomes obvious that the cost of college should not be messed with.

In William Elliot’s article,”Are We Getting Our Money's Worth?”, he talks more about the lower income students struggling to get into college because of the fear of debt. Those who use loans to pay their way into college usually end up in debt because of the interest on the loans and the high college costs, which then causes them to wanna drop out. “As the debt load of matriculated poor and minority students rises, so do their dropout rates”(Elliot p26). The fact is middle and upper income student are able to use student aid to join more expensive colleges, while low income students are only able to be accepted in less expensive home state colleges. “The American promise is that those who work equally hard will recieve equal rewards. But the student loan programs may compromise the ability to graduate because of high loans” (Elliot p28). The people of low and high income are not treated equally even if they both work equally hard in life to succeed and have an education.