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Essay / Tuition in the United States: Free for All
Education is the platform on which America was built: an indisputable fraction of individuals sacrificed everything to come to our country and provide their children with an education that gives them a chance in this chaotic world. Elementary, middle, and high schools are publicly available to all citizens, and these opportunities have proven to be nothing short of successful. College is the next step on the path to improving our country as a whole; Public postsecondary education should be available free to all American citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The astronomical cost of college requires students to repay their loans for the rest of their lives; This is probably the most important argument in favor of free post-secondary education. In our country's past, "public colleges and universities were considerably more affordable than they are today, with lower tuition and financial aid covering a much greater portion of the costs." Today, however, the price of education continues to rise and students find it increasingly difficult to pay off student debt or even attend college. In 2016, Americans totaled $1.3 trillion in student loans alone, "carrying more student debt than credit card debt or car loans." Contributing to the student debt burden, grants and scholarships decline in value, while at the same time, students become progressively insolvent. In 1973, a federal Pell Grant paid “more than 75 percent of the cost” of education at a public college or university; today it covers only 30 percent of the average cost, allowing students to obtain significantly lower amounts. According to Keith Ellison, a writer for The American Prospect, "the cost of a four-year college education has increased 1,122 percent since 1978." In less than 50 years, the price of post-secondary education has skyrocketed to an absurd price, and yet the problem of unemployment still persists. Even if a person has the opportunity to pursue higher education, their career options may be limited due to lack of financial stability; High-profile jobs require higher academic levels, which generally precludes a higher cost. These disadvantages ultimately lead individuals to leave their jobs and/or eventually become unemployed. Our younger generations should not begin their adult lives drowning in student debt greater than any other source. On the other hand, however, there is the question of who will pay their tuition if students no longer have to? The most logical and common answer is people; a tax increase would cover the cost, but last year, 48% of Americans already felt their taxes were too high, according to CNBC. Using statistics from recent federal data, it was concluded that "if you live to age 75 and pay annual taxes starting at age 18," the taxes for free tuition are 77 $500 per person. Proponents of this claim are in favor of a free college education, but people should not have to bear the entire cost. Our country spends "hundreds of billions of dollars on subsidies to the oil and gas industry and billions more on Wall Street" and other industriesridiculous. According to data collected in 2015, the government covered 68% of the cost of Super Bowl costs. Certainly, some exceptions, such as sport, can be made in order to educate our future generation; university education should be considered "one of the most important responsibilities of our community, and it is a right that we should all be able to enjoy." A single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society.” All Americans, despite their circumstances, should have the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education. Supporting this idea, Casey Bayer, writer for Harvard Graduate School of Education, suggests that "a college degree is a ticket to the middle class." In most cases this proposition turns out to be true; by obtaining a high school diploma exclusively, individuals “earn on average nearly $30,000 per year.” In contrast, “bachelor’s degree graduates earn on average just over $50,000 per year and those with an advanced degree (master’s, doctoral or professional) average nearly $70,000 per year.” A college degree is far from guaranteeing a reliable annual salary, but currently, those experiencing financial stability issues do not have this opportunity. As Tressie McMillan Cottom, a writer for Dissent, says, “college is the domain of the relatively privileged,” and it's time to make it accessible to all Americans, whether wealthy or financially struggling; a university degree “is a right for all and not just a privilege for a few. A multitude of other countries have successfully implemented a free university system; why wouldn't the United States be just as effective? Germany is just one of the countries that benefits from free public higher education. German universities reported a 30% increase in student populations between 2012 and 2016, and this figure has likely increased since then. More enrolled students equals a larger workforce made up of a variety of skills; Many smart people never get the chance to use their talents because they can't attend college. Creating a free college system in America would allow anyone, regardless of their circumstances, to receive an education and add their intellectual abilities to our ever-growing economy. Finland is yet another country that offers free education. Despite previous pressures related to lack of quality education, Finland is recognized worldwide for its academic excellence. The values of American education should be the same as those present in Finland: "education is considered a fundamental right and Finnish education policy emphasizes equal opportunities for all." Currently, the American system does not have this equal opportunity, and the implementation of free college education is an important step in the right direction. Other countries considered successful in implementing free post-secondary education include Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, France, Greece, Czech Republic and Brazil. A free system among the above countries is considered quite effective, but it notably has its own flaws. . An increase in student enrollment is inevitable and rather the goal of free postsecondary education, but it is seen as having created difficulties on campus; “there is a risk that university teaching and research will suffer”, that resources and funds will dwindle..