Why College Tuition Should Not Be Free - Argumentative Essay

Introduction

The issue of making college tuition to be free has raised a lot of controversies for a long time in America (Bucarey 2). Many political leaders have used the issue as a campaign strategy to garner more votes. However, the issue can not be easily decided since it requires a lot of scrutinies to justify both the opponents' and proponents' side critically. At a certain period in America's history, college was attended at no cost through the use of land-rant strategy. The situation was plausible because only a limited number of students attended colleges. Nonetheless, as time went by, many individuals pursued higher education and, in turn, increased government spending on the tuition fee to the point that it became unpractical. Various initiatives have been developed to ease the burden on students and allow more individuals to pursue higher learning such as the provision of student loans (Norton). Making college tuition-free has its advantages but also a lot of substantial limitations. College is very important but should not be made free due to various repercussions such as increased tax rates, overcrowding in schools, and the process will adversely impact the value of degrees and institutions.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Making college free would impose a huge monetary burden on the government especially in the long run. The process would enable more people to enroll in higher education, which would mean more costs for the government. Consequently, to fund the increased demand, the government would result in modifying fiscal and monetary policies in the country to acquire sufficient funds needed. Such measure entails increment in tax rates, which would signify a bigger burden on the taxpayers (Walsh). The process would lead to the development of negative implications on the economy. Contrary to the estimated growth in the economy that proponents use to justify making higher education free, the process will greatly impede on economic and overall development. Individuals may opt to migrate from the country when the burden of the increased taxes become too much to bear. Subsequently, the labor force in the country would reduce, which would, in turn, lead to decreased productivity and income in the country.

Similarly, the escalated taxes would reduce the net income of the citizens (Walsh). Such a situation would cause a decrease in the purchasing power of the consumer and cause negative implication on various industries in the country especially the ones invested in the production of luxury goods. Decrease in the income received in such companies would cause a reduction in the amount of revenue retrieved by the government and, in turn, increase the strain on the taxes acquired. The heightened pressure on the government revenue would impede growth as the surplus the country has may lessen and cause the regime not be able to provide other important public amenities such as health services. Increased taxes would further affect investment rates in the country negatively. For instance, since people would have more expenditure, their saving margin would decrease. Therefore, their disposable income may not be able to support entrepreneurial ventures. Additionally, increased tax rates may discourage foreign investors from investing in the country. Heightened prices on the goods and services may further reduce exports and lead to the realization of an unfavorable balance of payment.

Making college tuition free will lead to overcrowding in colleges. Due to the reduced cost of the process, many people will enroll in the higher institutions and cause overstraining of the facilities. Therefore, institutions may be compelled to develop wait lists or overly extend existing ones (Walsh). Additionally, the budgets spent on the programs may highly increase and, in turn, lead to diminished access to such programs. Moreover, free college tuition will reduce the value of the institutions. The increased number of students in the establishments would cause reduced worthiness of the degrees attained due to the minimized teacher-student personalized relationship. Consequently, many people would not trust the trustworthiness of the certificates attained. Employers may cultivate such a perception and increase scrutiny during the hiring process such as a request for more qualifications. In turn, it may lead to a heightened degree of unemployed individuals in the country. Due to the free cost of the education, students may not put the needed emphasis on their studies. Hence, it would lead to poor grades and in many cases may cause high degrees of dropouts. Overcrowding in the lecture halls would reduce lectures' impact on the students due to lack of efficient interaction. For example, the educators may find it tiresome to go through all the assignments dispensed or exams, which may lead them guessing marks or not according them the needed response. Thus, the students would not be graded and aided efficiently, which affects the value of the degree negatively.

Proponents of free college tuition argue that the process would lead to an increment in productivity in the country. Many students would be able to enroll in higher education institutions and be equipped with the necessary expertise, which is currently demanded in the labor market (Bucarey 33). Therefore, the individuals would have the knowledge that many employers look for when hiring. Additionally, the process would reduce the huge burden that is currently imposed on students, especially by student loans. The funds that are invested in the repayment of the loans may be used for other beneficial purposes such as investments. Hence, they would promote economic growth.

However, college tuitions cannot be dismissed due to such claims. For instance, there is the possibility of the decreased value of the degree attained in colleges due to overcrowding. Therefore, employers may disregard the certificates obtained. Therefore, the process may not have substantial merits on improving employment rates in the country. Similarly, the free system would only cover tuition fee (Norton). Hence, the student may still need student loans to fund their housing, clothing, eating, and other incurred expenses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, college tuition should not be free in America. The process has a lot of fundamental adverse implications such as an increase in tax rates. Such a situation has serious negative implications like reduction in investments, migrations, which might reduce the number of productive individuals in the country, and the development of the unfavorable balance of payment. Additionally, the process would cause overcrowding in higher institutions, which have the effect of reducing the value of the education offered in colleges. Proponents of the structure argue that the process would lead to an increased workforce and the corresponding positive implications. They also argue that the process would reduce the burden of student loans. However, the prospect of the undermined value of the degrees offered questions the possibility of increased job opportunities for the students. Furthermore, the students would still require the students' loans to fund their other expenditures. Therefore, college tuition should not be made free. The government should look for other strategies to aid students in colleges.

Works Cited

Bucarey, Alonso. Who Pays for Free College? Crowding out on Campus'. MIT Working Paper, 2018. Retrieved from: https://economics.mit.edu/files/14234

Norton, Vince. "Why Free College is a Bad Idea." Norton/Norris Incorporated, 16 March 2018. Retrieved from: https://nortonnorris.com/free-college-bad-idea/

Walsh, E. Jennifer. "Why States Should Abandon the 'Free College' Movement." National Review, 19 March 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/03/why-states-should-abandon-the-free-college-movement/