Rising Tuition Fees in Universities and Colleges - Essay Sample

Introduction

The rising tuition fees at community and technical colleges and universities is a result of decreased public funding in higher education. Many institutions have been raising their tuition fees following budget constraints that they face each financial year. It is essential that an institution should remain in operation not only for sole benefits but also to benefit the society at large. In that case, the management tries its best to stay in service. Whenever other means such as investments in additional resources fail to yield more income, they remain with one option, increment of fees. It is also important to note that most community colleges and technical institutions rely on the government for funding. Therefore, whenever the government t fails to release enough funds to cater for the needs of the operations of the varsity, the institutions survey other options. The best and most possible option is usually increasing tuition fees. There is always a certainty that more admissions will come forth and that continuing students cannot opt out. The management, therefore, takes such options when with surety that they will benefit from it and that it is a more comfortable option.

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First of all, institutions borrow funds to ensure that they improve their operations. As earlier mentioned, institutions increase their fees as a result of insufficiency, and that is brought by fewer funds they receive from the government. However, every financial year comes with a strategic plan for any institutions on the measures they ought to improve to develop a competitive advantage over their rivals in the same investments. It is therefore essential to gather funds elsewhere to maintain high-quality standards in the institution despite the insufficiencies at the moment. High-quality standards usually attract many students from all over the country to study at an institution of higher learning. State-of-the-art facilities are essential to any institution as they give it a competitive advantage over others and attract more students. As a result, institutions that receive little public funds would borrow to ensure that they improve such facilities as classrooms, sports arenas, research laboratories as well as repair and maintain these facilities.

Secondly, institutions increase their tuition fees as a way of introducing services that cover all students irrespective of their abilities and disabilities. It implies that institutions would want to improve services such as accommodating the needs of the mentally or physically challenged. They would also want to ensure that modern technology is maintained in the institution to provide quality services. An increment of fees may be harmful, but its benefits are worthwhile. Such improvements can be made to ensure that the students who are mentally or physically handicapped are helped with their course work and that they stand an equal chance in achieving that degree.

Thirdly, finbanci8al aid has been on the high rise and has saved many less fortunate families by granting them a chance to attain higher education. While at it, the student feels that this could be a good and easier way of getting a degree without paying for it upfront. All they are opted to do is make system applications, and once lucky; they are financed in their four-year course. However, student loans have proved to be a nightmare for many students, especially after they graduate. It is usually expected that upon completion of the degree course, one would get a well-paying job and will, therefore, be able to pay the debts that they are owned by the financial aid institutions. It is essential to realize that each financial; year during their study, the institution would make increment on the fees against the first four year fees structure that they were given in the first year. In doing so, the institution is usually aware that the students do not break a sweat top pay the fees and that the burden lies on their financers hence the non-sensible increments. The student has left out a huge burden of paying the debts. There is no certainty that after completion of the course, they will get employed. The strategy has put many at a financial crisis while it is initially viewed as beneficial.

Fourthly, the increment of tuition fees in community colleges has been associated with the rate of inflation in any country. Whenever there is an economic crisis, the value of a country's currency depreciates. The result is constant inflation. Research has proved that every time there is inflation in a country, the tuition fees are raised by 6 %. It is a discouraging rate. It is necessary to note that inflation usually results from various factors. Whenever there is a lot of liquid money in circulation, there is inflation. Whenever prices of commodities increase anonymously, it indicates inflation. Also, the scarcity of resources in the country has been attributed to the causes of inflation. Therefore whenever everything is high and par, there is always the possibility of increment in unique services such as education. Since all citizens are always on the run to grab that degree, the determination makes them vulnerable to the situation. They are, therefore, always an easy target whenever universities decide to raise the fees.

Lastly, there are other costs other than tuition that tend to increase whenever tuition fee increases. As earlier mentioned, tuition fee increment is associated with the current economic state. Therefore, it is essential to consider other related costs that a student has to pay for while facing the cri9sis of tuition fee at the same time. While some go for financial aids to cater for their tuition and others get lucky to have scholarships, the daily expenditure of a student can amount to an amount significant enough to pay for their one-semester tuition fee. The expenses they incur while traveling to school and back, buying books and related academic equipment, accommodation, as well as their daily upkeep, is vast. The nature of the course that a student has enrolled ibn also determines his expenditure on the academic equipment. Students who take technical courses have been reported to incur bigger courts as compared to thos4e in more uncomplicated courses. The technical courses such as technology, engineering, and medicine require more personal input in and outside classroom premises. In doing this, students who take such courses would incur a lot of expenses in purchasing equipment for practical lessons.

On the other hand, students who are enrolled in literature, education, and business courses incur less o academic equipment. The nature of the course, therefore, determines not only their cost on equipment but also the tuition fee as a whole. The cost of obtaining a degree in medicine is three times higher than the cost of acquiring a degree in business related courses. Students who chose to live a flashy lifestyle in the campus are always the victims of excessive expenditures. For instance, students who chose to drive their cars to school rather than using public transport make double expenses for petrol as well as the parking fees. Keeping a car in a college that offers residence to its students is an unnecessary expense that could be avoided if one denies themselves excess comfort.

Conclusion

Conclusively, it is recommended that students who find themselves in the middle of a fee increment crisis should act promptly by reducing their other expenses. Such expenses as using personal vehicles and residing outside school premises could help save a penny. Secondly, it is recommended that the students should make wise decisions whenever they decide to opt for financial aid to support their degree program. Options such as signing up for online courses could be of great benefit in cutting down the costs. Online degrees allow the student not only to incur fewer expenses but also to work according to their schedules. They tend to achieve more since the flexibility will enable them to earn income elsewhere and finance their degrees without having to incur debts from financial student loans. Thirdly, students must beware of the job marketability of a course before they enroll for it. Courses that have a low job market are not worth incurring much to get a degree that would help you put food to the table. Lastly, it is the role of the government to ensure that they provid4e enough funds to institutions to avoid putting the whole burden on citizens.