The Importance Of College Tuition

As it is, there is about $1 trillion in college debt in America. A Philadelphia Enquirer article warns that, “The average debt owed per person is $25,000 -- the highest level of student debt in the nation's history,” and that the number is increased by tens of thousands of dollars for those who go on to get higher degrees. $25,000 is a lot but the reality is that a lot of people have even more than that. For example, what if someone goes to an expensive private college and their tuition is anywhere between 30 and 70 thousand per year. In total they could be paying between 120 and 240 thousand dollars per year. The majority of the country is most likely unable to easily pay for that and could end up with extensive amounts of debt just because they went to the college that they wanted to. Student’s education shouldn’t be compromised just because the school they want to go to has a high tuition. Alarmingly, “Study after study has shown the number one barrier to attending college is the published rate of tuition.”(Lowe) The amount of student debt as a result of a school’s high tuition should decide where people should go to school. If tuition is decreased then simultaneously, student debt would be as well.

Matt Taibbi argues in his Rolling Stone article titled “Ripping Off America: The College-Loan Scandal” that the government is the primary source to blame for today’s appalling inflation rates on increasing student debt. Additionally, he argues that the reason the tuition is so exploitative and unfair, is because it was created to benefit two groups. The first being, “…colleges and universities, and the contractors who build their extravagant athletic complexes, hotel-like dormitories and God knows what other campus embellishments” (Taibbi). Next up, the other group that gains from the current system is the government. This is because, “…the government actually stands to make an enormous profit on the president 's new federal student-loan system, an estimated $184 billion over 10 years” (Taibbi). Further, Taibbi goes onto to state that students often have no idea what they are signing up for with student loans, because not all students have access to the same information. Finally, Taibbi mentioned that “because of the poor job market, young people may have less of a chance than ever to actually get a good job commensurate with their education” (Taibbi). This means that with no degree, students have no chance, but with a degree you are forced down a road of high risk, and at the end you are likely to be left with a ton of debt.

With this increase in tuition costs it is making a college education more and more unaffordable and putting students in more debt.

In 1976, the average cost to attend a four year public university was $2,175; today, the average cost to attend a four year public university is $25,000 (Snyder). This means it is 1150% more expensive to go to college in The United States today than it was 30 years ago. This obviously would create a problem on how we as people are going to pay for our higher education. Today college has become almost a necessity to have a satisfactory life, and with these rising prices some individuals believe student loans are the only option. There are many reasons as to why the prices have risen, but the one undeniable fact is that this has created a problem within our country. Which, is known as the student debt crisis, and it has been on the rise the past couple years. This problem is affecting people all around the United States, and is causing multitude of problems for them all because they wanted to pursue higher education. Wanting to better your opportunities by bettering yourself is not something that needs to be punished, and sadly that is what is happening. This problem is something that needs to be fixed for the sake of Americans and our economy, but will also take time and a multitude of steps to correct.

The increased costs of tuition and fees are making it more difficult for individuals to attend college, and they are being forced to drop out, having a major impact on graduation rates. Data stated that was stated in FACT SHEET on the President’s Plan to Make College More Affordable: A , Better Bargain for the Middle Class (2015), “The average tuition at a public four-year college has increased by more than 250 percent over the past three decades, while incomes for typical families grew by only 16 percent” (“Fact Sheet”, 2015). This is causing major stress and becoming a burden on the finances of the student and their families. In order to attend college, a large percentage of students will have borrow money because of

In 1965, the President of the United States Lyndon Johnson signed the Higher Education Act of 1965. This allowed for many things needed in the higher education system, one of them being low interest loans to students who need financial assistance to get through college. This is where the debt problem begins, but does not get out of control until the most recent past decade. Some of the drastic increase of debt can be contributed to more people going to college, but can also be contributed to state schools receiving less money from their respective states and needing to raise tuition and all other fees to cover the difference. Schools do have other justifiable reasons to raise rates as well, such as utilities, upgrades to the campus upon requests of the student population, employee wages, no one is willing to work

In fact, in the past, even if you were a college graduate, you were considered to be in the minority of the society; however, today, a college degree is fundamentally a requirement for any majority of careers. As the need for a college degree increased, the less affordable it became, therefore, student loans became a must. Although student loans do help students with a higher education, they can also get those individuals into tons of debt. Even though we can all benefit from a college education, the future looks pretty barren for those with student loans. The future of college tuition, and in another word, student loan; seems to be going only up with no release in sight. In order to get a better understanding of why, this might be a good time to look back at when the first federal student loan and grant programs were established and how it has fueled the rising tuition costs.

In 2016, college grads graduated with an average of $37,172 in student loan debt. This is a 6% increase from the previous year, and the rates increase as colleges become more expensive. Going to a University or College is looked upon as a luxury or a privilege nowadays. Good paying jobs that supply good living standards are requiring at least a bachelor’s degree to be considered for hiring. Any persons, including college students, should not be forced to live with, be pressured by, or be under the control of student loan debt. Student loan debt has been proven to have an impact on a person’s mental health. It keeps the less fortunate from having a chance to prosper in a competitive workforce, and the system that provides financial aid (FAFSA) doesn’t always meet a person’s needs completely. College should be an earned right for those who have stuck through the education process as an adolescent.

All careers from construction workers, to teachers, to attorneys are all important in today’s society, and it is important to let the adolescence to choose the path they take in their life. Sending fewer young people to college will not solve the country’s national debt problem. Companies will still send their work across seas in order for them to pay less and make more, even if the United States has enough labor workers in the country. Sending young people to college, or even a trade school, is better because they are gaining knowledge that they would have never had without attending a higher institution of learning.

Not only does a high price tag discourage many from pursuing a degree, but it can affect unemployment as well. The Baby Boomers are reaching an age where retirement is an option and will leave the workforce up to the younger generations. This will be a big blow for the economy if America does not increase participation in the workforce. Unemployment will increase tremendously if the output of college graduates isn’t reaching needed levels to balance the shift out. The amount of student loan debt is at $14 trillion and is continuing to increase. There are 44.2 million American students who have an average $37,000 in student loan debt. Student loan debt can impact major financial decisions for the student whether it be to purchase something like a car or house. Seeing the hefty price tag of a college education can deter many from pursuing a degree. Paying off college can be a real struggle if the student is not from a wealthy family. Some families can’t even provide food to feed themselves. Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue a higher

Paying for a Higher education in the United States is still yet to be affordable for the common student, regardless of all financial help, it's still a burden. Due to student loans and other financial helps, student debt has become a crisis, that many Americans continue to struggle with throughout years without absence. The current economy is leaving no choice than raising tuitions. "But from now on, unless inflation is halted, there's no choice in the matter but to continue raising tuition", according to the Los Angeles Times. Student debt enlarges with the current inflation.

The problem, of course, is that the cost of college tuition has skyrocketed. Students and their families are getting buried deeper and deeper in debt trying to pay for college. Public universities, once havens of affordable, quality college education, have been hit the hardest. Almost every state in America has cut, and/or is cutting funding for higher education (Ortiz 1). It’s a problem that has quickly become a national crisis. The cost of college is very high compared to how the economy has been and how wages and financial aid have not risen with the cost of tuition. This makes it harder for students to graduate and brings a lot of stress to their lives. Without the funding that is needed many students drop out or take a longer time finishing

Trying to get into college these days is difficult enough, but once you do, there is no rest for the weary. Tuition is unfortunately rising at a rate of almost 8% a year with no sign of abating. This leaves students and their families with a bill they may end up carrying for years. To even be able to afford college in the first place, you need to be savvy, educated and determined. Here’s a few ways you can get some financial help for college:

All our lives we are asked “What are you going to do when you grow up?” well here I am, graduating in a few days. I have since made up my mind as to where I want to be in five years. I will hopefully have worked myself through college and landed a reliable job that will help pay my tuition to continue my education. The issue is, what are my plans to get there?

Going to school and trying to afford it can be a financially draining experience, and I know that from experience. Our government has made many relevant changes thus far to better support students, but much more can still be done. With rising tuition costs and not enough government aid, more and more students are forced to take out loans in order to pay for continuing education. These loans later become a huge financial burden, some totaling near $30,000. If the dream of a college education is dependent upon access and affordability, how are young people supposed to continue their education and plan a future, when the cost of tuition is through the roof? Because higher education supports our economy, the government should be expected