Why free college is good?

The benefits of free college include greater educational access for underserved students, a healthier economy, and reduced loan debt. Drawbacks include higher taxes, possible overcrowding, and the threat of quality reduction.

What is the goal of free college?

At the core of free college programs is the goal of democratizing access to education. A big barrier is removed for many prospective students by getting rid of the expensive tuition costs. For disadvantaged students who may have previously been discouraged by financial limitations, this becomes especially important.

What would free college do to the economy?

Free College Would Drive Economic Growth

This springs up the question, "Should higher education be free?" In different types of economies, as college students graduate without debt, this would give them the ability to earn, save and spend immediately, which could stimulate the economy.

Who benefits most from free higher education?

Using nationally representative data on in-state students at public institutions, I find that students from higher income families would receive a disproportionate share of the benefits of free college, largely because they tend to attend more expensive institutions.

How can free college increase equality?

Also, when more people have access to a college education, the number of employable people for high-skilled jobs increases. This means that more people will join the workforce, which could help lessen the wealth gap between the upper, middle, and lower classes.

Why 'Free College' Is a Terrible Idea

Would free college help poverty?

Students from poor families are less likely to attend college at all, and they also attend lower-priced colleges than their wealthier peers. Thus the benefits of free college in terms of lower tuition would be regressive, relative to a policy that distributes dollars equally across families.

Does free college reduce inequality?

In practice, free college programs are often regressive and can do more to exacerbate inequality than solve it. While the design of the particular program matters, free college initiatives nearly always fail to address the needs of low-income students and shift resources to the upper middle class.

How does free college improve society?

Free college tuition programs have proved effective in helping mitigate the system's current inequities by increasing college enrollment, lowering dependence on student loan debt and improving completion rates, especially among students of color and lower-income students who are often the first in their family to ...

Is free education successful?

Research shows that free tuition programs encourage more students to attend college and increase graduation rates, which creates a better-educated workforce and higher-earning consumers who can help boost the economy.

Why college should be free -- for rich and poor alike?

2. Less Student Debt. On that same note, student debt is extremely high, about $30,000 per graduate, and can cripple budding adults who are just finding their place in the world and need to land a job with their degree, or risk being mired in debt for years—even decades.

How does free college decrease student debt?

Consider a student with a $3,000 Pell Grant who uses $1,000 to pay tuition expenses and the remaining $2,000 for living expenses. She also borrows $5,000 for living expenses. The free-college plan can reduce her borrowing by only $1,000 because that is the amount by which her Pell Grant increases.

Why would free college increase taxes?

Public universities are primarily funded through state taxes already but to ensure every child goes to college, those taxes would have to be raised by the government and their funds. If the government has to pay so much of the tuition costs, our government will continue to increase our debt.

Did college used to be free?

During much of the 1960s (in the early years of the Master Plan for Higher Education in California, 1960-1975), the three public higher education systems in California – the University of California System (UC), the California State College System (CSUC), and the state's community colleges – did not charge tuition for ...

What is the free college movement?

The Campaign for Free College Tuition is building a broad coalition in support of increasing opportunity and building a stronger economy by making public colleges tuition free.

Why does college cost so much?

Overhead expenses, an ever-increasing demand, and competitive campus amenities drive costs up, as well. For students looking to pursue a college education, there are many options for funding, including college savings plans, student loans, and work-study programs.

Should college education be free thesis statement?

The Thesis Statement 1)Should college be free? College should be free because it would provide equal access to educational opportunities, eliminates student loan debt, and which in turn a better educated workforce.

How is free education possible?

Free education is education funded through government spending or charitable organizations rather than tuition funding. Many models of free higher education have been proposed. Primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries (often not including primary textbook).

Why college is important?

A college education shows potential employers you can complete a long-term project, you can think critically, solve problems, and have the capacity to learn new things. Most jobs now require at least some college experience; without a degree, you will likely be at a disadvantage when competing against other applicants.

When did education become not free?

Legislative and social changes in the 1960s started to really shift the business model of colleges, ending the era of tuition-free state universities. As a result, the student debt crisis began. After WWII, the GI Bill affected the demand for college as more Americans wanted to go due to their military benefits.

How does college benefit society?

Society benefits from higher education

In addition to having higher earnings and better job benefits, college graduates are more likely to own a home and less likely to be in poverty or need social services.

Why does college improve society?

It also has a high rate of return for society. We all benefit from the higher tax revenues, the lower demands on social support programs, the lower rates of incarceration, and the greater levels of civic participation of college-educated adults.

How does college education improve society?

For example, the average graduate is 24 percent more likely to be employed and average earnings among graduates are $32,000 higher annually and $1.2 million higher over a lifetime. Moreover, those with college degrees are more than twice as likely to volunteer and they contribute nearly 3.5 times more money to charity.

Would free college lower the value of a degree?

It could be argued that college being free could actually decrease the value of a college degree. Since everyone can afford one, it may become more commonplace and could lower salaries for those who already have a bachelor's and those who graduate.

Would free college increase diversity?

In our second study, we analyzed effects for sub-populations of students holding various gender and racial identities, across years 2000-01 to 2014-15. Promise programs increased initial college enrollment of Black males by 47%, Black females by 51%, Hispanic males by 40%, and Hispanic females by 52%.

Why can't college be free?

Higher education is a high fixed cost enterprise, and universities can't reduce their costs that much in the short run. What's changed is the way those costs are covered. Most state legislatures have been pulling state funds out of higher education, so student tuition has to go up to cover the costs that remain.