Essay on Education Example: Should State Colleges be Free to Attend?

Colleges are degree awarding post-secondary institutions where people go to acquire advanced knowledge in different fields, for jobs, as well as learn various things which assist an individual in all aspects of life. Colleges contribute a greater good for humanity. Ambitions are limitless, the brain power, the will, and the desire to be intellectually advanced. The loan debts, though, after college, follow and minimize the probability of real life, marriage, owning a home, or even having kids. However, if state universities were to be free, then the effects would be more dreadful than when they are not. The effect is felt majorly economically than philosophically or morally. Without any surface perspective in this argument, the state colleges are sources of funds which flow in from the fees paid by the students. Collectively, this is a huge sum of money in millions of dollars which run the countrys economy. In average, it costs between more than 30 to even more than 80 dollars a year to attend college. If colleges become free, the universities lose vital sources of funding for self-sustenance. It would be difficult to pay the professors and build educational infrastructure (Tejvan 1).

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If the colleges were to be free, then the universities would depend totally on the federal government for funding, plus other sources. The government would then share costs with the citizens by raising taxes. It will hit harder than expected of the citizens hard earned money. While the argument that lack of money to attend a college can contribute to one not attaining the academic papers, there already are scholarships for those who put a required amount of seriousness in their academic work (Tejvan 1). Colleges separate serious individuals from jokers. Free colleges would encourage anyone just to join universities, have fun, party all the time just because its free.

In the same way, if colleges were to be free, then the value of the college degree and other academic papers would go down (Tejvan 1). It would create situations in the job market, whereby the average number of degree holders would overpower job positions available. Or, there would be no competition in the job market as there would be so many levels available. There would be no competition at the lower levels of education like High school if state colleges were to be free. Most students would take their academic responsibilities for granted.

Should State Colleges be free to attend? Well, there are other alternatives which can serve better that having independent colleges. The Pell grant that is given by the federal government is not repaid, but the criteria for one to qualify for a loan should be revisited to accommodate every deserving student and be grant expanded to more than the current $ 5,775. Merit-based financial aid should only apply to financially disadvantaged students rather than the precious ones. An insightful and comprehensive business pre-college education should be made available to students so that they can make informed decisions, like where to attend, whether they can work before college or work part time to finance their college. There should also be in-service training to employees that are directed to sharpening their skills rather than entirely depend on the college degrees as qualifications. Therefore, the state universities should not be free but rather have their fees regulated to accommodate everyone and also increase the amounts and sources of scholarships.

Works Cited

Tejvan Pettinger. Should University Be Free: How to Decrease Cost and Increase Quality at American Universities? Economics Help. March 2014. Retrieved from http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/949/economics/should-university-education-be-free/