There are many political issues that will be discussed with the forthcoming presidential elections. One of these is whether it would be possible to make college tuition completely free in the United States. Bernie Sanders, among others, has pushed for it. This leads us to ask: Could the U.S. really free college? I was intrigued by the different viewpoints of different authors and found them convincing. It seems that the most controversial issues are the source of all the money to pay college tuition. Robert Samuels was the first author I read. He claims that it is possible to afford tuition free of charge and that this would be the best choice for the United States. He begins his article with a mention of Finland. Finland has one in every five high school graduates worldwide. Samuels feels that the U.S. should emulate their success in education. As mentioned, the main issue when it comes to education is money. How can we afford tuition? Samuels dispels doubts with logic. Samuels points out that the U.S. has spent nearly twice as much for tuition free than they have on student loans, Pell Grants and financial aid. This is a good point, as it appeals to government. The university receives a fixed amount and eliminates all costs, including student loans. They also avoid the expense of servicing, subsidizing, or nonpayment of loans. Samuels then reveals the flaws in our current system. While some people believe that the education system is in good shape and does not need to be changed, they are wrong. Over the last three years, nearly 25% of all education benefits went directly to families with incomes between $100,000-$180,000. While the government claims the benefits are meant to benefit everyone and aid low-income people, the truth is that they favor the wealthy and keep the poor poor poor. Samuel’s post not only covers those two major topics (funds and success in helping the underprivileged), but also a really important point. He claims that higher education is the key reason tuition should not be charged. Thomas Jefferson was a similar advocate. If education was not valued, and only a few people were in power with higher education, the rest would be brainwashed. We all need to think independently, thoroughly and understand complex concepts. The essay concludes by saying that recent research has shown unequal educational attainment to be linked to income inequality, higher crime rates, and lower standards of healthcare. In other words, society suffers more when public higher education becomes more privatized. The conclusion of this article was perfect and reflects all that he believes. Brian Rosenberg’s article “Free Public College Is a Terrible IDEA” was it. The argument begins with the author talking about his personal opinion but not stating facts. It is very pessimistic and rambling. He then makes some valid points. He points out that colleges will be more selective if tuition is made free. Nearly all the free tuition plans do not address how this would affect the admissions process. Although schools may be able to change their admissions policies and allow more students to enroll, additional staffing is required. This would benefit students who are wealthy and go to prestigious private high schools. The idea that everyone can go to college for free is good news. It will make it more affordable for students with low incomes to go to university. But if they don’t get an equal education, they will still suffer. Rosenberg also believes that tuition would be cut and the graduation rate will drop because of the complexity and deep roots of the inequality issue. Rosenburg believes the best approach to addressing the whole issue is to make sure that aid goes to the people who need it most. The Pell Grant’s amount would be the most effective way to achieve this. Pell Grants are awarded to households earning less than $50,000 per year. The maximum amount anyone could receive from the Grant is $6195 at this time. We all know that this doesn’t make a significant difference in college costs. The Pell Grant could be increased to help those in greatest need. This would eliminate the inequality gap. It would also cost less than giving college away. Finally, I read the article It’s time to push for free college by Max Page and Dan Clawson. This article shares many of the same ideas as The Best Tuition is No Tuition. Clawson and Page believe that college is becoming an essential part of modern life and not a luxury. A higher education is essential for anyone who wants to succeed in today’s world. Both rich and low-income people deserve equal chances of success. Although Page and Clawson acknowledge the huge gap between economic classes in education, they do not explicitly state that college should be free. Their core belief is that education should be available to all. The article also stated that “new spending in public colleges, which would have been sparked by an increase of students, produces greater economic activity then a similar-sized cut in taxes or similar spending to build roads and bridges.” Over their lifetimes, college graduates tend to be less likely to smoke, engage in more crimes, pay less for social welfare, and are better at tax generation. Higher education has many benefits for society, the economy, and all aspects of life. Why should it make our banks break and leave us with crippling debts? Page and Clawson have the answer. It ought not to. It is beneficial to support education in the country. It is also affordable to support higher education in the US, as mentioned in all three articles. Either making tuition totally free as Samuels and Page suggest, or increasing the amount for the Pell Grant, Rosenberg suggests. Money seems to be the simple part of this problem. The United States needs to change the way they allocate funds. This is where the tricky part of this situation lies: Would making college free actually benefit those who are in greatest need? Rosenberg claims that college would not be free for those in need, but it would make colleges more selective during admissions. Samuel’s claims show that many education grants and benefits are being given to people who do not actually need the money. It’s impossible to imagine college being free for those who cannot afford it. A complex issue like this will never be resolved by everyone. This is exactly why it’s so fascinating to analyze.
