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Kieran Ellis

Mrs. Cramer

Comp 1 Period 6

24 March 2017

The True Costs of Free College Tuition

"Student debt is crushing the lives of millions of Americans. How does it happen that we

can get a home mortgage or purchase a car with interest rates half of that being paid for student

loans? We must make higher education affordable for all. We must substantially lower interest

rates on student loans. This must be a national priority, says Bernie Sanders" Vehicles, houses,

and multiple other expenses are more affordable than college tuition. We should reconsider our

spending options to make expenses affordable for all Americans, regardless of their wealth and

job. However, some believe that making college free or only free for two years is the most

logical option. We must ask ourselves is this possible? Sadly no, and for clear reasons too. The

economy prevents us from doing this action. If college were affordable, no one would need

financial aid, scholarships, and other means of payment. However, two years of free college may

give students an opportunity to see if that is what they want and its free education, with more

important expenses to focus on. When taking action on this topic, people should not make

college tuition free, but instead make college affordable to decrease debt and increase the number

of graduates.

First and foremost, we all know the economy is changing. For better or for worse, prices

change on certain items. Therefore, college costs an arm and a leg1. Prices will only increase as

we go from generation to generation. Therefore, when someone attends a University, the person

must pay for books, supplies, boarding, taxes, loans, food, and transportation. Which leads to

1 Hyperbole- the sentence is an exaggeration college does not cost an arm and a leg.
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more students in trillion-dollar debts and second guessing higher education (Cubberley). Most

people in college choose work over school. Even the students who apply full time minimize their

time in the classroom significantly. In the end, they usually quit altogether since the schedules

take most of their day or they do not have the money to pay for college (Cubberley). Students

such as, Claudia Niessler who lives in Berlin, Germany, made sure to attend a school that did not

charge tuition. Unfortunately, she had to work twenty hours a week at a supermarket. Stefan

Steinbock states paying tuition would discourage people with good grades but low incomes from

getting university degrees (Marcus). People have to sacrifice their college intentions, for the real

price of reality and triple digits. If we made college affordable, debt would decrease and people

will not have to worry about further expanses.

There is no doubt, if we make college tuition free then there would be no use for financial

aid and other financial supporters. With no money coming in and out of a university, critics say

that the government will have to raise taxes (Josephen). However, there are alternatives. Using

combinations of federal and state funds to make public colleges tuition free. The problem is

many states have been reducing their higher education budgets (Josephson). Making college

tuition free not only causes conflict for the government, but also for the professors and other

people working at the university. Half time professors make approximately 75,000 dollars a year;

add in taxes, luxuries, necessities, transportation, homage, and food. If we decide to make

college tuition free, the professors will get half of what they are making now, approximately

37,500 dollars. This is not enough pay for someone who creates the lectures, provides office

hours, spends their summer working on the lectures and work, and working on additional plans.

Spending their life in an office. If we make college tuition free, the government, and, people
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working at universities will earn less. Making the issue impossible to pass with people opposing

higher taxes.

On the other hand, two years of free college might give students an opportunity to see if

thats what they really what. Most students leave high school with an idea of what they want to

major in2. When they attend college with that idea in mind, they discover two things: either they

like the major and want to continue, or they hate it and want to do something worthwhile. If they

change their career, they can be in debt and consequently major in a career they hate (Josephson).

However, due to free college tuition, students will not be as competitive in the workforce or at

school. If we allow students to go to college for tuition free, most students will take the school

for granted. This goes back to the argument the use of scholarships. When scholarships come out,

less than half of the students will have any use for them. Thus resulting in less competitiveness

and money, they can receive. Students will not work hard at school or work because the school

has free tuition, making it harder to find good employees and hardworking students (Cubberley).

Even though two years of free college might give students the opportunity to see what major they

can pursue. In addition, leading free college tuition to other setbacks.

Another counterargument that can arise is that education is free, a person can save their

money for other expenses they might have. With the new economy, we all know the necessities

we need is not free. This includes college expanses. Some critics ask the question how the money

could be raised to pay for free college (Josephson). The most concrete answer is through

scholarships, fundraisers, and trying to remain a certain GPA.

2 Analepsis- Flashing back to an earlier point. Since some parents might remember

leaving high school.

We all have to remember that college years is the most important years of a person life.

Leaving high school is both an exciting and scary paradigm shift3. The student has the

responsibility to choose which major they want to do for the rest of their life. If we give students

free college tuition, this issue will be both impossible and absurd. Students need to realize that

life is not always perfect; we have to work for what we want. With the economy changing, we

have to save and accomplish more. There would not be any use for financial aid, since tuition is

free and competition would be limited. The counterarguments include the two years might give

students the opportunity to see if that is what they want for a major therefore students will not

have to worry about paying the additional classes. However, the students will feel the need to not

work as much as a person who does work for their education, and it is free education, with more

important expenses, such as transportation, taxes, homage, and, luxuries instead of books, taxes,

and boarding. The downside, where would the professors and the people working at the school

earn money? College itself will not be able to function without money, but not a ridiculous

amount either. This is why college tuition should not be free, but instead be affordable for

students because to decrease debt and increase the number of graduates.

3 Metaphor- A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object

or action which is not literally applicable. Comparing the world to a paradigm shift.
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Works Cited

Cubberley, Fran. The Reality of Free Community College tuition. Article. Academic Journal.

April 2016

Josephson, Amelia. The Pros and Cons of Free College. SmartAsset.com. Sep 15, 2016

Marcus, Jon. How free college tuition in one country exposes unexpected pros and cons. The

Hechinger Report. Oct 18, 2016

Better World Quotes- Bernie Sanders on College Education.N.p.,n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017