The Pros And Cons Of Free College Tuition

Education is an essential component of personal and societal growth, and higher education has been shown to have a positive impact on both individuals and societies. Free college tuition is a contentious issue that raises important questions about the accessibility and affordability of higher education, and while there is so much to support the idea, there are also some drawbacks that must be considered. The topic of free college tuition has been debated for quite some time now. Those who are all for free tuition say having tuition-free colleges will help with higher access of education, help reduce student debt and can help the workforce’s numbers. Those against free tuition state that college is already or nearly free and that tuition free

Having tuition free colleges can help give opportunities to those who would have otherwise have not been able to pursue a college education. Another reason they support the pro-stance is because free tuition can help reduce student debt. There are about 40 million Americans with student debt. This can be a huge financial burden and can in some cases be a financial roadblock. By having tuition free college, graduates would have a great sense of financial security. "According to the 2014 Gallup-Lumina foundation, they conducted a study with 96 percent of those surveyed said that postsecondary education was important, and 79 percent believed that college wasn't affordable for everyone in the country who needed it." "The benefits of offering the first degree for free are evident for our economy, our country, and our children. Business leaders will get access to the larger pool of skilled, certified workers they are clamoring for. Connecting American workers with good jobs that require an associate degree or higher will help us start to rebuild our waning middle class." (The economy needs more workers with associate degrees; Should community college

One reason is that college is already free or nearly free. Due to the Pell grant and other financial aid, most low-income families and individuals already don’t have to pay college tuition. " According to the College Board, students with annual family incomes under $65,000 received enough grant aid to cover the entire cost of tuition at community colleges in 2011-12" (Tuition is not the main obstacle to student success; Should community college be free? P.Kell Andrews, Goldrick-Rab Sara; 2016) Even the cost of other expenses will be covered by the Pell grant or any other financial aid. "In fact, dependent students in the lowest income quartile received enough grant and scholarship aid to cover the cost of tuition and leave $3,100 to cover other expenses" (Tuition is not the main obstacle to student success; Should community college be free? P.Kell Andrews, Goldrick-Rab Sara; 2016). Another reason according to those on the con-stance side, is that free tuition could cause low completion rates among students. "The National Student Clearinghouse estimates that less than 40 percent of students who start at a public two-year college complete a degree or certificate within six years. According to federal data, just one-third of students from the lowest income quartile who started at a public two-year college in 2003-04 finished a credential in six years. Among independent low-income students