As a teenager only beginning to look at colleges, the price tag is hard to overlook. And I’m not alone being intimidated by the cost. This is the same worry for many students involved in the search for colleges.
In an article titled “Should College Be Free” by the New York Times, Callie Holtermann writes, “In the past three decades, the average cost of attending a private college in the United States has tripled — landing at around $50,000 per year” (Holtermann, nytimes.com). Additionally, after attending these colleges, many young adults are left with student loan debt that continues to affect them long after they graduate.
So, should college be free?
The consequences of free tuition should be recognized and considered, obviously the money has to come from somewhere. But I believe that it would be beneficial because it provides post- high school education for more people as well as makes it easier for graduates to support themselves.
In another article titled “How student loan debt became a trillion-dollar problem for Americans”, it states that, “In the 2020-2021 academic year, the College Board found that 51% of students who graduated from public four-year institutions left with federal debt averaging more than $21,000 per person. That figure is slightly higher for those who went to a private institution, with 53% graduating with federal debt averaging more than $22,000” (Hammond, cnn.com). These staggering costs create problems for graduates. Juggling student loan debt as a young adult is a daunting and debilitating price to pay for attending college. And, while the logistics will be hard to work out, removing this strain can only be helpful to individuals, their families, and the workforce.
As I thought about and researched this issue, I found statistics that are overwhelming. In an article titled “COVID-19 Adds to Economic Hardship of Those Most Likely to Have Student Loans”, by the United States Census Bureau, it reads, “Student loans are among the largest contributors to household debt. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that in 2017 the total amount owed in federal student loans was $1.37 trillion” (census.gov). To eliminate this debt would be to eradicate a financial stress that could be avoided.
This would not be a new idea. Some countries have already implemented free college tuition, including Germany, Brazil, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark (uopeople.edu). This means that free college is possible. A lot of Americans fear higher taxes, but the benefits to society and the workforce that come as a result of education is limitless.
Ultimately, free tuition would eliminate the burden of student loan debt that so many experience. Education is important and should be more accessible as it creates skilled critical thinkers who will solve problems and innovate in the future.
