The idea of a free college education has been a topic of discussion for many years in the United States. Advocates argue that providing free college would make higher education accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status, and lead to a more educated and productive workforce. However, this idea is not without its flaws and detractors. In this article, we will explore the reasons why college should not be free in the United States.
Why college should not be free?
Free colleges are good to a certain limit. They are good for providing a generalised form of education to the people. They defy the fact that degree colleges charge such high fees to impart knowledge and degree. A person with graduate and post-graduate degrees hold the power to continue the chain of education and render services to the newer generations.
It is not feasibly possible for any college to provide such educational qualifications and excellence for free. Degree holders hold in them the power to shape the future of many people. If they do not get a quality education how will they impart it to the youth and the future of the nation? Hence, it is safe to say that free educational degrees are taken lightly and are given lesser importance than the ones that are paid. It won’t be able to generate the same value as compared to that of regularly paid degree colleges.
Also, denial of the fact that not everyone will surpass the quality of education they receive is of no use. Imparting your understanding and skills to the succeeding generations is of great importance and not everyone can do it. Free education will degrade the quality of education and create a generation gap.
Reasons behind college not being free
- Cost: The cost of providing free college education would be astronomical. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for a public four-year college is $10,560 for in-state students and $27,020 for out-of-state students. For private colleges, the average cost of tuition and fees is $37,650. The cost of providing free college education to all students in the United States would be in the trillions of dollars.
- Advocates of free college education argue that the cost could be offset by increased taxes on the wealthy and corporations. However, this is not a sustainable solution. Tax increases on the wealthy and corporations would likely lead to a decrease in investment and job creation, which would ultimately hurt the economy and reduce the tax revenue available to fund a free college education.
- Quality: Providing free college education would likely lead to a decrease in the quality of education. Colleges and universities would be forced to cut costs to provide free education, which would result in a reduction of resources and facilities, larger class sizes, and less personalized attention for students. Additionally, the quality of the education provided would be compromised if colleges were forced to admit students who are not academically prepared for college-level work.
- Equity: Providing free college education would not necessarily address the issue of equity in higher education. While the cost of tuition and fees is a significant barrier for many low-income students, it is not the only barrier. Other barriers include a lack of academic preparation, a lack of access to information about college and financial aid, and a lack of support once enrolled in college.
- Responsibility: Providing free college education would remove the responsibility of paying for college from the individual and shift it to the government. While this may seem like a positive thing, it could have negative consequences. When individuals are responsible for paying for their education, they are more likely to take it seriously and make the most of their educational opportunities. When the government is responsible for paying for education, there is a risk that students will not take their education seriously and will not be motivated to succeed.
- Opportunity cost: Providing free college education would come at an opportunity cost. The money used to provide free college education could be used for other important purposes, such as improving K-12 education, increasing access to healthcare, or investing in infrastructure. While higher education is important, it is not the only area that needs funding, and providing free college education would limit the resources available for other important initiatives.
- Market based system: The United States has a market-based system of higher education, where colleges and universities compete for students and funding. This competition leads to innovation and drives improvements in the quality of education. If colleges were no longer competing for students and funding, there would be less incentive for innovation and improvement.
- Unintended consequence: Providing free college education could have unintended consequences. For example, it could result in a decrease in the value of a college degree. If everyone has a college degree, then having a college degree.
- Reduced quality of education: When something is free, it loses its value. If college education is free, the quality of education could decrease. Professors and teachers may not be paid well, which could result in a lower quality of instruction. Moreover, with an increase in the number of students, the quality of education may decline as there may be insufficient resources to provide quality education to all students. Also, with a free college education, students may take their studies for granted and not take them seriously, resulting in a lower level of educational achievement.
- Limited access: Making college education free may limit access to education. In the current system, students who excel academically and are financially capable can attend college. However, if college education is made free, there would be a limited number of spaces available for students, and the competition for admission would be intense. This would mean that only a small number of students would be able to access a college education, resulting in unequal opportunities for students.
- Overcrowding: Free college in the United States could also lead to overcrowding in colleges and universities. With more students attending college due to free tuition, colleges and universities would need to increase the number of classes and the size of their facilities to accommodate the influx of students. This could lead to overcrowding and a decline in the quality of education.
- Reduction in competition: Another disadvantage of free college in the United States is that it would reduce competition among colleges and universities. When colleges are free, there is less incentive for them to compete for students, which could lead to a decline in the quality of education. This could also result in a decrease in the number of private colleges, as they would struggle to compete with free public institutions.
- Decreased value of degree: Finally, free college in the United States could result in a reduced value of a college degree. When college education is free, it may be less valued than it is when students pay for it. This could make it more difficult for graduates to find employment, as employers may not view their degree as high as they would if the student had paid for their education.
Situations that may arise due to free colleges
- Tax hikes: The government would have to raise taxes to pay for free college education. This would mean that taxpayers, including low-income earners, would have to pay more taxes, which could negatively impact their financial stability.
- Reduction in funding of other programs: The government may reduce funding for other programs to pay for free college education. This could negatively impact other sectors such as healthcare, defence, and infrastructure development.
- Increase in college enrollment: If college education is made free, there would be an increase in the number of students enrolling in college. This would result in a higher demand for teachers, classrooms, and resources, which may be difficult to meet.
- Reduced quality of education: Making college education free could lead to a reduction in the quality of education. With an increase in the number of students, resources may be limited, resulting in lower quality.
Advantages of free college in america
However, everything that has a negative aspect comes with a positive aspect as well. Let us now examine the positive impact of college being made free in America. The following are the perks:
- Worldwide education: Many outstation students (all over the world) might not be in the financial condition to afford such high educational fees but would want to have access to the education from those top educators in the world would get the scope to gain education from them for free. This will increase globalisation. Many outstation students end up picking up a career option in America and attaining citizenship. They choose to settle there this later adds up to the GDP of the company.
- Decreased illiteracy rate: Many Americans cannot afford to get quality education due to the high fee structure. Despite having a GDP of 23.32 lakh crores many American people fall below the poverty line and are barely able to meet their expenses. Education as a whole is a very expensive sector and people with lower income would not consider going for higher education which will lead to a decrease in the educational level. A decreased educational level will later make a path for a lesser GDP return. But, providing free education will facilitate a decrease in the illiteracy rate and an increase in GDP. It is inversely related.
- Quality of the society: The society thus formed due to education will be productive and be considered an asset for the country as a whole.
- Less debt among students: Outstation students/ Existing students of America struggling hard to clear their student debt will be relieved from the additional stress of clearing away debts and will be able to concentrate more on their studies.
- Equality: Having exposure to education for students from different backgrounds irrespective of societal gaps on caste, creed, race, gender, sex and colour a sense of equitability is created among the students.
Solution to the issue
To tackle the issue of degree colleges, various measures have been taken already. They are mentioned as follows:
- Scholarship: The facility of scholarships to well performing yet belonging to the lower income group is a great initiative to keep the value of a degree intact and not make learning a barrier for people that deserve to qualify and attain the degree.
- Concessions: Discounts and concessions as per the performance of the student are being provided to keep cultivating knowledge amongst the students at lower rates.
- Laying of various student loans: Numerous student loans are being laid off to the student wanting to pursue higher learning and proceed further. So that their financial conditions and other related factors do not hamper their future.
Importance of paid college degree over free
After discussing in detail, “Why college education should not be provided for free” it is important to understand the weightage a college (higher studies) degree holds. And how a paid college degree is beneficial for people and society. In this section, we will be discussing the importance of a college (under/postgraduate) in shaping the future of an individual.
- Facilitates in increasing the overall salary: A college degree holds the weight to increase the salary and facilitate a degreed person to earn 154 more per week.
- Increases the face value: A post and undergraduate degree exponentially lifts the face value of an individual and helps him to lead a prosperous life.
- Versatility: A degree simply increases job opportunities for people. This is where the main difference lies. A degreed person can choose what he wants to do and they have the requisite ability and understanding of the corporate world.
- Learn from others: Being in a college increases human interactions. Someone who is an optimist and a good learner will grasp knowledge from other people while interacting and which will help them to brush up on their existing skills.
- Framing a suitable future: Well-educated graduates will contribute to framing a good future for their successors. This in return will benefit the nation. So a graduation degree not only increases the face value of an individual it helps to enhance the quality of living of many at a time. These passing years will contribute to a reasonable literacy rate among people. And graduates will achieve a higher score in everything.
- Constant pressure among students: According to research psychology paying for something automatically increases the consciousness of the people and they stop being reckless about this. This will also facilitate increasing the learning capacity and grades among students. Hence, a paid college unconsciously creates pressure on the students to perform well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, free college in the United States comes with a range of disadvantages that should be considered before implementing such a policy. These include an increased tax burden, decreased funding for other programs, a lower quality of education, overcrowding, a reduction in competition, and a decreased value of a degree. While the idea of free college may sound appealing, it is important to consider the long-term implications of such a policy.
Instead of focusing on free college, we should look for ways to make college education more affordable while maintaining its quality. This could include increased financial aid, scholarships, and tax incentives for students and families. By taking a balanced approach, we can ensure that all individuals have access to higher education without sacrificing the quality of education or burdening taxpayers.