College Tuition: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Some people think that getting a college education is not really a good idea anymore. According to Abel and Deitz, “In recent years, students have been paying more to attend college and earning less upon graduation—trends that have led many observers to question whether a college education remains a good investment” (2014, p. 1). If the student cannot find a job that pays a decent amount of money, after graduation why should the government ‘fund it?. College costs are rising each year. Future generations may not be able to go to college because tuition will be too high. But Abel and Deitz

When discussing further education for a high school graduate, attending a university is very costly. The use of federal loans became dependent on most American families that try to provide such an education to their child. Before World War II, academically advanced students from families that were unable to finance college could apply for competitive scholarships; Scholarships mutated into “financial aid” when the GI Bill of Rights financed college for the discharged veterans (Toby, 2010). Since then, student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion, which is larger than debt accumulated from both credit cards and auto purchases (Student Loan Debt No Longer Just Problem for Borrowers, 2012). With the increasing amount of loans and the uprising cost of college, students fall farther into student debt every year. Whether it is at fault of the university, the poor economy, or the aid programs in general, students should not be required to pay back their federal student loans before finding a steady job in their field of study.

Over the past decade, it has become evident to the students of the United States that in order to attain a well paying job they must seek a higher education. The higher education, usually a college or university, is practically required in order to succeed. To be able to attend these schools and receive a degree in a specific field it means money, and often a lot of it. For students, the need for a degree is strong, but the cost of going to college may stand in the way of a successful future. Each year the expense of college rises, resulting in the need for students to take out loans. Many students expect to immediately get a job after graduation, however, in more recent years the chances for college graduates to get a well paying job

The increasing cost of higher education in the United States has been a continuing topic for debate in recent decades. American society emphasizes the importance of education after high school, yet the cost of undergraduate and advanced degrees continually rises at a greater rate than inflation. According to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, cost factors prevent 48% of college-qualified high school graduates from pursuing further education (McKeon, 2004, p. 45). The current system requires the majority of students to accumulate extensive debt with the expectation that they gain lucrative post-graduate employment to repay their loans.

Many families have been left with few options due to the enormous obstacle placed before them. These problems have deterred many aspiring college graduates, some are left too afraid of the price tag associated with higher education to complete their education. And for some even begin it. Good paying careers are the major push for college education however,  "The bar is getting higher for well-paid jobs, with most requiring a college degree..." (Biola and Rodriguez 5-6 ). This leaves America's youth with a decision that should not be as hard to make as it actually is. Is the risk of staggering debt in their future really worth it when they have seen others before them struggle to find good work even with a degree? With all of the talk of high tuition up to the national level many critics have decided to add their two cents into the debate. In "Democrats' loose talk on student loans", the author points out that, "44percent of students at two- and four-year institutions do not borrow at all," (paragraph 2) While this is a factual statement, having 44% of college students not borrowing money is nothing to sneeze at. Despite the fact that the number is smaller than what one would normally expect it does not make the effect of student debt any less important or devastating in some extreme situations.  The author continues by stating, "And of those who do, 59percent borrow less than

Degrees are one of the most important documents in todays society besides the constitution. Almost all americans will go to college and get a degree for the occupation they are interested in. Without a tuition todays society wont be getting bigger rather, smaller. The tuition cost has gone up 2.8 percent in the past decade. States have cut spending costs to higher education. More recently states are slowly making college tuition more affordable using the limited amount of tax dollars to help lower the cost. Minnesota for example, has created a law that has made community collage almost free, the new law allows students with financial aid which might not pay all of the tuition, force the state to pay for what the finical aid can not. Some have

In the U.S. students are encouraged to earn a college degree, but the cost of an education turns many away. “Driven by the allure of a decent salary with a college degree, Americans borrowed to go to school. Outstanding student debt doubled from 2005 to 2010, and by 2012 total student debt in the U.S. economy surpassed $1 trillion” (Mian, Sufi 167). There are plenty of opportunities to obtain funds for college, including one of the most common, student loans. A student loan is defined as “a common way to fund education, specifically college and graduate school, and they provide educational opportunities that you otherwise may not be able to afford” (Barr). Student debt is at an all-time high in America. Over half of all lower income

Nowadays, we are always bombarded with the constant studies that show the economic benefits of going to college. For example, one study suggests that the average earnings gap for a high school graduate and someone with a bachelor’s degree working full time is about $15,000 (Owen and Isabel 210). But, all these sources only focus on the economic benefits and they make it seem that the only way to succeed. However, they don’t mention as much the possible negatives and that it might not be for everyone. The biggest obstacle, especially for the lower class students is the high cost of tuition. Which has caused student loan debt to become the second highest form of debt in the U.S, surpassed only by mortgage debt (Owen and Sawhill 212). Even if the student figures that out then there’s the problem of finishing school. Studies show fewer than 60% of students finish their 4-year degree within 6 years, if they finish at all (Owen and Sawhill 218). Then for those who do obtain their degree there’s the

College tuition has been increasing over the years and recent American college graduates have been in great debt. People have been debating over what the cause is for years, but there are two particular differing causes we’ll be focusing on. The Editorial Board is a very diverse staff of writers from USA Today who’ve had experience in journalism covering serious newsworthy topics and events and received degrees in journalism. According to the article, “Making College More Expensive”, the Editorial Board states that as a whole, American college students and graduates owe about $1.2 trillion. The democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley, have plans to make college affordable and aid students with their debt by making taxpayers pay more so that the money can go into Pell grants. Barmak Nassirian thinks otherwise. Nassirian is a nationally known policy analyst at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and a federal aid expert who serves as a voice on higher education issues. In his article, “Tell States to do Their Share”, Nassirian believes that state disinvestment is the cause of college tuition increase because public colleges are becoming privatized. The Editorial Board and Nassirian use the three major appeals to persuade the audience to their reasonings for the college affordability problem. They further their purpose by trying to prove to the audience that their point is valid.

Paying for college should not be the hardest part. Lowering the cost of tuition would lead to less student debt and allow more students to attend college, which would increase the amount of educated people in the general public. Due to the fact that a college degree is necessary for most people to achieve success in today’s society, it should be cheaper or even free. Many entry-level jobs won’t hire people without a degree, and having one gives graduates more options.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”-a lingering question posed to countless children time and time again. Some people find the answer immediately; others take a little longer, but eventually everyone figures out who they want to become. After deciding between traditional professions like doctor or lawyer, and unconventional paths like acting or farming, “grown-ups” are faced with an even more vexing query: “now that you know what you want to be. How will you afford to achieve that?. Since Gen X (the generation after the baby boomers) attended college, the price of tuition has increased significantly. In fact, “over the past 35 years, college tuition at public universities has nearly quadrupled” (Campos, 2015). This issue creates noticeable anxiety for college students who must struggle to find a method to pay for a higher education without falling into massive debt. The solution to rising tuition costs is far from simple and entirely political; however, there are ways for students to afford an

For some students, a college degree is the key to success but for others the completion of formal education also introduces a huge burden. Many students desire higher education but increasing enrollment rates have driven up the cost of college tuition and fees; therefore, forcing some students to offset the cost with student loans whereas the loans are often accompanied by debt (“A College” 6). Student loans generate an average debt of twenty thousand dollars per student inevitably student loans are necessary for two thirds of all students. (Collinge 76). Per data from the College Board, the repayment of student loans becomes a challenge for some borrowers, especially students who do not complete the program and those students who sought a less than marketable degree (“A College” 8). The American Council on Education suggests, one fifth of undergraduates with personal loans overlook the possibility of being eligible for a federal student loan; consequently, private loans

It is important to consider who truly benefits from free college tuition, as it is not low-income students. In fact, free college tuition creates a larger rift between the dollar values low-income students have in comparison to high-income students. According to a study from NPSAS (Chingos, 2012), a government-funded, student-study organization, rich students will receive 24% more in dollar value if the establishment of free college tuition. This is interpreted as a tradeoff; free college tuition will eliminate tuition, but out-of-pocket costs for low-income families will increase to $17.8 billion dollars annually which grants cannot cover. Rich students would be able to pay off these costs because of that increase in dollar value. Therefore, it is impossible to ignore that low-income students truly would not benefit from free college tuition, as they do not have the same privileges as rich students do.

One organization that is interested in changing the constant rising cost of college tuition is, Campaign for Free College Tuition. This organization describes itself as “a bi-partisan, inter-generational coalition of individuals and groups…” These groups and individuals believe it is the country’s responsibility to make higher education affordable for everyone, This organizations believe if the United States wants to be competitive on the global marketplace it is necessary to have a workforce with the skills to do so (Campaign for Free College Tuition, 2013). How could this goal be achieved? By increasing both state and federal investments in higher education, but not increasing federal income taxes. CFCT suggests the creation of a federally funded National Promise Scholarship to provide to every academically qualified student from low and middle income families to cover the cost of in-state- tuition at

If an aspiring college student doesn’t have the necessary funds to attend school, there is another option they could use to pay for school. Student loans are a popular choice so that the student can pay for school. While this may seem like a great option for affording school, it can be a devil in disguise for many. The New York Times reports that Americans owe over 1.4 trillion dollars in student loan debt (Kelly 1). This happens when a college student takes loans with the belief that the college degree they get will help them achieve a higher salary which will in turn will help them pay off their debt. This often isn’t the case. A student takes the loans and attends school, but does not receive the salary that they were hoping to acquire from attending school. A standard payment plan for students is to pay off their debt in ten years, but according to a study conducted by US News, the average bachelor degree holder takes twenty-one years to pay off (Bidwell 1). This is a common occurrence as well, a report conducted by The Institute for Collee Access and Success shows that in 2012, seventy-one percent of college graduates had student debt (Serrato 1). The current system that the government offers to help those struggling to afford a secondary education is a flawed program that needs restructuring.