Free College Isn’t Really Free
One of the most consistent concerns that people have voiced about free college programs is that they dont go far enough. Even if a program offers free tuition, students will need to find a way to pay for other college-related expenses, such as books, room and board, transportation, high-speed internet, and, potentially, child care. “Messaging is such a key part of this,” said Dimino. Students “may apply or enroll in college, understanding it’s going to be free, but then face other unexpected charges along the way.”
It’s important for policymakers to consider these factors when designing future free college programs. Otherwise, Dimino and other observers fear that students could potentially wind up worse off if they enroll and invest in attending college and then are forced to drop out due to financial pressures.
Lowering Tuition Costs To Zero Increases Student Success
One-off tuition discounts can help send students to college during the pandemic. But bigger moves toward college affordability could be coming. Twin crises student debt and the educational opportunity gap make college affordability an increasingly hot political topic.
Free community college could increase college enrollment by 26% and the number of degrees awarded by 20%.
One of the biggest ideas in education policy free college has gained widespread support over the past five years. Free two-year and four-year college plans typically show federal and state governments splitting the bill.
Just as the growth of federal student aid encouraged college enrollment and broadened the educational choices of disadvantaged students, free-college plans promise to improve diversity in higher education. A working paper from the Federal Trade Commission projects that free community college would increase enrollment by 26% and increase the number of degrees awarded by 20%.
Arguments Against Lowering Tuition
It makes sense that making college free isnt an easy thing to do. Firstly, you have to pay the staff and administration, as well as the overhead costs to keep the campus running. Secondly, many universities are for-profit and run as a business. Therefore, profits are of utmost importance.
Some arguments against lowering college tuition include the following:
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Pros And Cons Of College Education Worth The Cost
Education is the essence of the democratic ideals that elevated the United states from a backward of rebellious colonists to the greatest, most spirited, powerful and successful nation in the world . Some people thought that going to college is just to waste of time and money. Actually, that is not right because going college and paying to the college is same like saving money in bank. Going college helps us to know the world, and why we are here. College education is not only for greater quality of life and more money because education is important to make house to home.
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Level The Playing Field:
Right now, if you cant afford to pay for college out of your pockets, you cant always go to your school of choice. You may feel forced to take loans or apply for scholarships. Therefore, the playing field is not equal. The only way to really make college education fair for everyone is to make it affordable for everyone. A lot of countries, especially in Europe, have already made this a reality. The University of the People has done the same by being a high-quality, 100% online, and tuition-free institution.
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Free College Would Decrease Inequality
Social inequality is one of the major arguments as to why college should be free. Students who choose to pursue college eventually graduate with an average of $32,731 in debt . Students from low-income families are usually held back by the possibility of incurring huge amounts of debt, and opt not to pursue college. Between 1979 and 2012, the inflation-adjusted earnings gap between two-earner households, one with high school diploma and one with college diploma increased by about $28,000 . This cycle of inequality is expected to continue unless free college becomes a policy.
Free college would also lessen undermatching, which occurs when students select colleges and universities based on financial needs . While these students could opt to pursue post-secondary education in more selective institutions as their academic achievement and credentials predict, their choice of less selective colleges eventually affects earnings and work opportunities, which negatively impacts their contribution to communities. Offering free college will promote equal opportunity to all students.
Free College Would Not Ensure High Completion Rates
There is no guarantee that free college will benefit all students because some might not even want to go to college. Lochner and Monge-Naranjo found that the return to college for marginal students is low. The least-prepared students would struggle to succeed. There are long-run factors, such as family environment, that have a significant effect on determining college attainment .
Free college recipients are not as motivated to study as those who pay for it. In Denmark, these type of students are referred to as eternity students, or those who stay in college for six years or more without any plans of finishing a program. Having free education affords these students to continually transfer from one study program to another. In contrast, paying college students showed greater perseverance in studying and finishing a program.
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How To Cut Your College Costs Now
Saving money on college costs can be challenging, but you can take steps to reduce your cost of living. For example, if you’re interested in a college but haven’t yet enrolled, pay close attention to where it’s located and how much residents typically pay for major expenses, such as housing, utilities, and food. If the college is located in a high-cost area, it could be tough to justify the living expenses you’ll incur. Similarly, if you plan to commute, take the time to check gas or public transportation prices and calculate how much you’ll likely have to spend per month to go to and from campus several times a week.
Now that more colleges offer classes online, it may also be worth looking at lower-cost programs in areas that are farther from where you live, particularly if they allow you to graduate without setting foot on campus. Also check out state and federal financial aid programs that can help you slim down your expenses, or, in some cases, pay for them completely. Finally, look into need-based and merit-based grants and scholarships that can help you cover even more of your expenses. Also consider applying to no-loan colleges, which promise to help students graduate without going into debt.
What Is Persuasive Speech
In layman language, it is a type of speech in which the speaker has to convince their listeners with their point of view. The primary purpose of delivering or writing such a speech is to motivate and educate the listener about your selected topic. However, it’s challenging to have a single viewpoint from each audience member some of the others will always have a different perspective.
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Argumentative Essay Free College
Free College A college education has become a necessity in todays society. What if college was miraculously free. It would be like going to your public high school with out paying that horrendous tuition fee. A lot of people say that free college is a dumb idea because it could potentially flood the market, and Others think its a great idea though because more people would end up going to college because they dont have to worry about financially paying for it. If there was a such thing of free college lower income students might reach graduation.
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Countries That Offer Free College
Many countries understand how debt-free education provides positive outcomes. Therefore, they made tuition-free universities a reality.
Heres a look at some countries where education is free for everyone, free for just their residents or highly subsidized by the government for foreign exchange students:
- Austria
- Finland
- Spain
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Free College Would Produce A Strong Workforce
The benefits of a more educated populace cannot be stressed enough. College education helps people learn how to learn. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to have this ability to re-skill and upskill in times of rapid change. The expanded performance standards and new learning networks in the post-industrial economy will require workers with both broader and deeper knowledge, skills and abilities for entry-level jobs, and to keep up with the accelerated pace of lifelong learning .
Computer technology may have the capability to automate processes, but it also requires a higher level of cognitive and non-cognitive competencies to optimally deliver services. College is believed to be the perfect training ground for all these skills to become embedded in the individual who would eventually join the workforce.
What The Free College Debate Means For Students
With Congress focused on other priorities, a nationwide free college program is unlikely to happen anytime soon. However, some states and municipalities offer free tuition programs, so students may be able to access some form of free college, depending on where they live. A good resource is the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Educations searchable database of Promise Programs, which lists more than 120 free community college programs, though the majority are limited to California residents.
In the meantime, school leaders and policymakers may shift their focus to other access and equity interventions for low-income students. For example, higher education experts Eileen Strempel and Stephen Handel published a book in 2021 titled “Beyond Free College: Making Higher Education Work for 21st Century Students.” The book argues in part that policymakers should focus more strongly on college completion, not just college access. “There hasn’t been enough laser-focus on how we actually get people to complete their degrees,” noted Strempel in an interview with The Balance.
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Free College Would Negatively Affect The Quality Of Education
Cutting spending on other areas, such as education research and development to accommodate more students could also compromise the quality of teaching. Proponents of education becoming a commodity through free college argue that making education more accessible makes it less valuable. Englands experience with free college revealed that over time, education quality declined. Caplan in his book The Case Against Education: Why the Education System is a Waste of Time and Money insists that the college-for-all mentality delivers little lasting value other than a credentialist arms race.
Types Of Publicly Funded College Tuition Programs
Before diving into the weeds of the free college debate, it’s important to note that not all free college programs are alike. Most publicly funded tuition assistance programs are restricted to the first two years of study, typically at community colleges. Free college programs also vary widely in the ways theyre designed, funded, and structured:
- Last-dollar tuition-free programs: These programs cover any remaining tuition after a student has used up other financial aid, such as Pell Grants. Most state-run free college programs fall into this category. However, these programs dont typically help with room and board or other expenses.
- First-dollar tuition-free programs: These programs pay for students’ tuition upfront, although theyre much rarer than last-dollar programs. Any remaining financial aid that a student receives can then be applied to other expenses, such as books and fees. The California College Promise Grant is a first-dollar program because it waives enrollment fees for eligible students.
- Debt-free programs: These programs pay for all of a student’s college expenses, including room and board, guaranteeing that they can graduate debt-free. But theyre also much less common, likely due to their expense.
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Pros: Why College Should Be Free
Proponents often argue that publicly funded college tuition programs eventually pay for themselves, in part by giving students the tools they need to find better jobs and earn higher incomes than they would with a high school education. The anticipated economic impact, they suggest, should help ease concerns about the costs of public financing education. Heres a closer look at the arguments for free college programs.
What States Offer Free College
More than 20 states offer some type of tuition-free college program, including Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington State. The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education lists 115 last-dollar community college programs and 16 first-dollar community college programs, though the majority are limited to California residents.
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Should Community College Be Free
Its a big question with varying viewpoints. Supporters of free community college cite the economic contributions of a more educated workforce and the individual benefit of financial security, while critics caution against the potential expense and the inefficiency of last-dollar free college programs.
Cons: Why College Should Not Be Free
Free community college isnt a universally popular idea. While many critics point to the potential costs of funding such programs, others identify issues with the effectiveness and fairness of current attempts to cover students college tuition. Heres a closer look at the concerns about free college programs.
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Is There A Free College
There is no such thing as a truly free college education. But some colleges offer free tuition programs for students, and more than 20 states offer some type of tuition-free college program. In addition, students may also want to check out employer-based programs. A number of big employers now offer to pay for their employees’ college tuition. Finally, some students may qualify for enough financial aid or scholarships to cover most of their college costs.
College Tuition Cost Presentation
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Free College Would Not Lead To A Well
Factors such as the quality of faculty as well as the readiness of students are crucial if post-secondary education is to deliver its perceived benefits. The infusion of money may benefit students by lessening the financial burden of going to college, but it does not ensure quality at all levels. Making college accessible could lead to compromising the quality of education, which would defeat the purpose of policies that seek to provide free college for the benefit of society. London is the most educated city in the world and sits atop the list of having the most talented workforce, but in this city, college education is not free.
Community College May Not Be The Best Path For All Students
Some critics also worry that all students will be encouraged to attend community college when some would have been better off at a four-year institution. Four-year colleges tend to have more resources than community colleges and so can offer more support to high-need students.
In addition, some research has shown that students at community colleges are less likely to be academically successful than students at four-year colleges, said Dimino. “Statistically, the data show that there are poorer outcomes for students at community colleges such as lower graduation rates and sometimes low transfer rates from two- to four-year schools.”
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It Would Be Too Expensive
The idea of free community college has come under particular fire from critics who worry about the cost of social spending. Since community colleges aren’t nearly as expensive as four-year collegesoften costing thousands of dollars a yearcritics argue that individuals can often cover their costs using other forms of financial aid. But, they point out, community college costs would quickly add up when paid for in bulk through a free college program: Bidens proposed free college plan would have cost $49.6 billion in its first year, according to an analysis from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Some opponents argue that the funds could be put to better use in other ways, particularly by helping students complete their degrees.
Good Persuasive Speech Topics
It might be possible that you have to deliver your speech at a professional level where you work. There college topics won’t work the best. You have to choose more appropriate and relevant topics beyond careers and jobs. Some of the most current persuasive speech topics are mentioned below :
- How to be physically fit with a busy schedule?
- How to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
- How to get satisfaction from your current position?
- Should social media be banned?
- Can technology replace human resources?
- How to do meditation for a peaceful mind?
- Why are tattoos considered unprofessional?
- How book changes someone’s perspective?
- What are the main reasons for suicide?
- Should the minimum wage rate be increased?
- What’s better – working from home or office?
- Should the voting age be lowered?
- Is having alcohol destroy our health?
- Is it necessary to get married at a specific age only?
- Can working on alternative days increase the productivity of employees?
- How are e-commerce platforms taking the place of traditional stores?
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