Free Essay - Government Paid College

Approximately three decades ago, a person who managed to obtain a high school degree had an assurance that they could secure a job and attain financial security. Over time, the economy and society have evolved to the extent that these high school graduates have lost their footing. In the present-day setting, a college degree continues to become more valuable. Pursuing higher education and graduating from college or university is one of the paths that lead to a middle-class lifestyle (Deming and Dynarski 283). However, access to higher education remains a controversial subject in the US due to the continually increasing cost of college. Given the value of attaining a college education, the government supports students through various means such as grants and loans. Thus, it is essential to examine aspects of government-paid college and arguments surrounding the cost of higher education.

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During the 1970s, a median American family earned about $13,000 annually. Schooling in a private university costs approximately $2,000 a year while attending a public institution cost about $510. As of 2015, the median household gets $52,000. The estimate of pursuing higher education in a private college requires one to part with $31,000 a year. Similarly, public university costs $9,000 annually (Davidson 1). These rapid shifts in college expenses over the years indicate how tuition has become expensive that the average family cannot afford to pay for it. One of the puzzling questions raised when debating college fees is how tuition expenses have managed to outpace inflation rates. Analysis of fee trends reveals that tuition costs have risen steadily faster than the rate of inflation since the 1980s (Kirshstein 1). Hence, over time, attaining a college education has become an elusive dream for many students.

The value that the economy and society attach to higher education continues to make colleges and universities appealing to students. The desire to achieve an associate's or bachelor's degree has led to a rapid increase in the number of people joining institutions of higher learning. More learners are enrolling in schools hoping to gain knowledge and skills that will empower them to thrive in diverse career paths. Groups that advocate for the government to sponsor public education argue that college education is a tool for the poor to achieve economic prosperity. There are better jobs, pay, and lifetime earnings prospects for college graduates compared to those who lack college degrees (Abel and Deitz 3). Besides, supporting students through free tuition is a policy that can help address or reduce chronic unemployment issues that often afflict the underprivileged in society.

As early as the 1990s, policymakers in the education sector observed that college education was increasingly becoming out of reach for students from the average American family. In a bid to encourage learners to pursue higher education after finishing high school studies, the state and national government initiated programs that would offer aid to students. The public supported policies such as merit-aid programs launched at the state level as a tool for helping reduce poverty by empowering young learners. The approach would become one of the foundations for the issuance of grants and loans to fund a college education. States awarded students who performed well funds to pay for full tuition and fees in public universities. They also had the option of attending private institutions (Deming and Dynarski 285). Through these scholarships, students could pay for college and study.

Another approach used to reduce the cost of higher education by the government is through the provision of subsidies to public institutions. Supporters of government-paid college argue that it is one of the successful strategies that the US administration uses to regulate the escalating tuition costs. Federal and state governments subsidize college costs to allow public universities to enroll students at lower prices as compared to private institutions(Deming and Dynarski 285). Considering that not all students can afford to join and pay to study in private colleges for four years, the subsidies offer a fair opportunity for the less privileged to access quality educations services. Therefore, by funding public institutions, federal and state governments make a college education affordable to more students.

Federal programs such as the Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan have made it possible for learners from underprivileged communities to gain access to reputable public institutions across the country. These programs, with the help of the government, channel funds to students. The award funds and loans based on factors like one's financial need and the cost of attending college. Besides, the government pays interests for subsidized loans while one is in school(Deming and Dynarski 285). Data on the US government expenditures reveal that the administration spent $91 billion to subsidize college education in 2016. It used $37 billion to cover tax credits and tax-related benefits. $41 billion got awarded to students from low-income families and military veterans pursuing higher education. The government also used $13 billion to pay interest rates on loans taken by students who are currently enrolled in various institutions(Deming and Dynarski 286).

There are policymakers and political leaders who oppose government spending on college education. They argue that the evolution of the programs has made them less useful since they no longer benefit poor students. The present-day configuration of federal and state-funded college aid serves the interests and needs of wealthy, upper-middle-class families(Deming and Dynarski 285). If the goal of education and pushing for increased enrolment in universities is to reduce poverty, then the current structure does not support that objective. Critics claim that the use of federal funds to provide tax credits and tax benefits to households with college students helps wealthier families. Such homes can send children to universities without government aid (Deming). Hence, government spending does not contribute to the empowerment of the less privileged.

The development of community colleges that rely on state aid or corporate funding to remain operational has also increased access to quality education. These institutions have gained attention and recognition from policymakers for the role they play in imparting vital skills in young learners. However, those who oppose the use of government finances to fund community colleges claim that they carry hidden costs that taxpayers have to bear. Low retention rates have led to the loss of billions of state and federal money as colleges remain unable to retain students. An analysis of costs incurred for full-time students who did not resume school for the second year shows that the government lost $4 billion in grants(Schneider and Lu Yin8). Given that these are losses that taxpayers incur, critics call for regulated government spending on college education.

My Opinion

Regarded as a crisis that limits disadvantaged students from pursuing education, the current structure of higher education in the US needs reforms. College education has become too expensive for learners from middle and low-income backgrounds and communities. The cost of tuition and fee has made it challenging for them to gain knowledge and skills that will empower them to achieve economic prosperity. A college degree increases one's prospects of getting a job, attaining financial freedom and stability in life. Education is, thus, a tool for eradicating poverty and improving the welfare of the impoverished. Given the immense value of higher education on an individual and society, government policies and spending ought to evolve to facilitate funding of tuition-free college education.

Works Cited

Abel, Jaison R., and Richard Deitz. "Do the Benefits of College Still Outweigh the Costs?" Current Issues in Economics and Finance, vol. 20, no.3, 2014.

Davidson, Adam. "Is College Tuition Really Too High." New York Times, 8 September 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/magazine/is-college-tuition-too-high.html. Accessed 19 October 2019.

Deming, David, and Susan Dynarski. "College aid." Targeting Investments in Children: Fighting Poverty When Resources Are Limited. University of Chicago Press, 2010.

Deming, David. "Tuition-Free College Could Cost Less Than You Think." NY Times, 19 July 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/business/tuition-free-college.html. Accessed 19 October 2019

Kirshstein, Rita J. "Not Your Mother's College Affordability Crisis: Issue Brief." Delta Cost Project at American Institutes for Research, 2012.

Schneider, Mark, and Lu Yin. "The Hidden Costs of Community Colleges." American Institutes for Research, 2011.