Essay: Why College Costs Need To Be Controlled

Why College Costs Need to be Controlled As Nelson Mandela once said, “education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world”. Having a college education in today’s world is one of the most powerful assets an individual can possess. But, getting a college education is not always a possibility for willing students. The cost of college has become an increasingly higher hurdle which potential students must face. Attending college is universally agreed to be an expensive endeavor, and is quite often one that is too expensive for the willing and driven potential students. The hefty price tag for the opportunity of a college education not only affects students - but the families of students as well. College workers, professors, policy

The rate at which college tuition has been rising over the past several decades, especially over the past decade, is negative for the parties involved. From 1972 to 2013, tuition costs for four year colleges have increased from $2,117 to $8,655, which is equivalent to $376 to $8,655 when inflation is considered (Minsun, Ko, 816). This rapid rate of increasing tuition prevents a number of students from being able to attend college in the first place, as well as increase the financial burden on those who are currently attending college. The higher the financial barrier is to begin, the number of students who will graduate college is decreased. Tied in with the high costs of college is the debt which challenges many students during and after college. A large portion, nearly two-thirds, of the college population will at some point take out a student loan or other form of financing to pay for their education (Odland). The debt which follows this is often difficult to pay off – some students end up spending years and thousands of dollars in interest on top of the amount borrowed to eventually pay off these