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  • Essay / Should College Be Free: Pros and Cons

    Although free college sounds appealing and simple, the reality of providing a completely free college education may cause future conflicts and affect Americans today today, of all different incomes. In the article It's Time to Push for Free College published by the NEA, Max Page and Dan Clawson argue that many people cannot attend college because of extremely high tuition costs and want to avoid creating a burden on their families with thousands of dollars in debt. Additionally, they explain that, just like grades K-12, college should be a necessity because earning a degree is a gateway to a happy and stable life. Rather, implementing free college for all citizens would eliminate the upfront value of earning a degree, dramatically increase U.S. taxes on all household incomes, and, finally, lead to a decrease in dedication and achievement students. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay First of all, people enroll in college for many reasons, but the most important one is to earn a degree in a job field that suits the individual and set yourself apart from others in this area. A person's education can only take one so far, and since so many people may have the same, there won't be enough room to find a job. The Gallup-Lumina Foundation conducted a survey that found that only 4 in 10 Americans agree that colleges are actively evolving to meet the needs of students. In addition, 13% of subjects believe that university graduates are “well prepared to succeed in the job market.” Based on these findings, the quality of higher education will most likely decline and degree completion will be more common and less exclusive to potential employers. Additionally, creating a government system where there was free college would result in a significant increase in U.S. taxes. ; in fact, the estimated cost of this project is $47 billion per year (Wellman 2017). Furthermore, the American public simply cannot afford it, a key concept being that of entitlement. If a free tuition program were rolled into taxes and an individual graduated from their “dream” school, they would get a job and, more importantly, pay taxes. Over the course of their lives, they will have to pay not only for the education the government provided them, but also for many other tuition costs. By covering full tuition at all universities and community colleges, middle-income and some high-income students would receive significant subsidies, even though many do not need aid. Meanwhile, low-income students would still not have the luxury of paying for non-tuition costs, such as books, supplies, transportation and rent for those living on campus. Finally, Page and Dawson argue that free college would guarantee an increase among college graduates; however, a 2003 study of full-time college students found that 54 percent in the lowest income quartile did not graduate within six years. James Rosenbaum, an education policy researcher at Northwestern University, surveyed 80 former two-year college graduates, many of whom prioritized partying and put little effort into school. Participants constantly told Rosenbaum that..