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In-State College tuition should be free for eligible students

A student has to work a full-time job. She is also a full-time student. She wakes up

everyday, worrying about her homework, tests, quizzes, and school work. Not only does she

have school work, but she also deals with her responsibility each month due to the low-income in

her household. She wakes up at 5 a.m. every day, works an eight-hour shift at Ross, and then

rushes to her evening classes which ends at 8 p.m. She works 40 hours a week, sometimes more

due to overtime, which is not optional for her. Sometimes she feel like she should quit her job to

focus on her education but she can’t because she has to pay tuition and bills for herself and her

family. Most of the things depend on her because she’s the oldest sibling and her parents income

is not enough. She have to rely on her jobs much as her academics, to be able to pay for her

tuitions and books. She wants a better future for herself and her family.

That’s how she experiences her college life as a student who comes from low-income

family and wants a higher degree. A lot of stress and challenges are brought upon her, but she’ll

do whatever it takes to get the diploma. Her jobs shouldn't take away her study times. She put

too much effort to get high level of education and having a lot of stress can cause bad health, she

should feel the delighted sometimes. Most of the students across United States can relate to this

situation.

Many students are unable to pay their debt within a year. Even though some students

dropout, they still owe their student loan debt. According to”Everything you need to know about

student debt” by Libby Nelson, the average cost of college can depend on what type of school

you attend as well as tuition and fees. In state the average cost of college for the 2017-2018
school year was $9,970 for a four-year public school. The average graduate who took out loans

and graduated in 2012 borrowed $29,400 for a bachelor's degree. That's a monthly payment of

$312 on a standard, 10-year repayment plan. For an associate degree, it's $17,158, or a monthly

payment of $182. ​It's not just students who graduate who end up with debt. Among college

students who enrolled in 2003, 36 percent had not earned a degree or certificate by 2009. The

majority of ​dropouts​ at all colleges had at least some debt $10,400 among students who

borrowed at private nonprofit colleges, $9,300 at public colleges and $7,500 at for-profit

colleges. ​In-state college tuition should be free for eligible students; it would give students

more freedom to choose classes they enjoy, stimulate our economy by creating a

better-educated workforce, and help reduce the national poverty rate.

In-state college tuition should be free for eligible students because it would give students

more freedom to choose classes they enjoy. According to “The washington post” by Sara

Goldrick-Rab “Only 1 in 2 high school graduates from low-income families attends college, and

many say they choose not to enroll because they don’t believe they can afford it.” Due to some

families not having enough money, they choose not to attend college. Instead they have other

things that have to be paid each month, which is not enough for both bills and tuition. College

students are known to choose a major that they don’t like because it guarantees a higher future

salary. They might go to a college that is not right for them and go to a different college because

of the cost difference. A high debt could have a negative impact on their finances in multiple

areas which can cause many people to rely on other options that is cheaper. Free college will

help many students that come from low-incomes family. Students that come from low-incomes

family did not have many options when it come to property. People that are intelligent and
hard-working could have an opportunity to earn a degree or a decent job if they actually choose

to go to college without having to pay for it. (Goldrick 2017)

According to the graph, it conveys that ​35.30 percent, cited "financial reasons" as the

main reason for dropout colleges. Financial and Social/Family reasons are only 1.3 percent away

from each other, which also means most students dropout due to social/family reasons. The

percentage of family reasons proof that most student likely to dropout because of their family

problems. The problems are such as abandon, low-income, divorces, and etc. It also shows that

people who come from

low-incomes family are

going to miss more

opportunity.

Another reason,

In-state college tuition

should be free for

eligible students

because it would

stimulate our economy

by creating a better-educated workforce. In today’s society, a better-educated workforces and

free colleges will help many in America, including the stock markets, ​pure capitalism and free

markets. Most jobs at a higher level that require skills could increase the economic growth.

Higher paying requires great level of education but most low-class and middle-class can not

afford to get that great level of education. (Josephson 2018)

 Furthermore, most immigrants come to United states for a better life and education but

most can’t afford to go college due to low-income. Free college will also help those people who

is lack of education in their country and seek for better education here in united states. According

to “Immigration: united states and better life”by ​Zamara Saldivar. There are reasons to why

immigrants migrate to the United States; most of them come for hope, freedom, and a better life.

People do not see how much immigrants struggle in their own country for instance, they starve,

they do not receive any type of help from their government, they work full-time jobs making

extremely little money, and it is really hard to survive this way. These immigrants come to the

US to give a better life for their children, like an education, shelter, food, and future to look

forward to. We do not see this amongst immigrants, but I do not know anyone who would not

migrate if their life was this hazrous in their home country.

​College debt is a huge thing in america today, which can cause many economy to

decrease. Today in america, debt is what cause the economy to decrease. The more debt that

students hold, the less business there will be. People could create new advances ideas such as

dealing with technology that can contribute to today's world because having the opportunity to

go a free college is motivating and helps you to get productive. Most colleges aren’t providing

the system that students need and many are not able to accomplish in finishing their degree

because of the high cost. When this happens, it could prevent people who were born into a lower

class from moving over the course of their lives. There will be a less likely chance of strengthen

our economy and having more eligible lower-income students will help to improve college’s

graduation rates.

The final reason, In-state college tuition should be free for eligible students because it
would help reduce the national poverty rate. College is the main thing in today’s society. If

people don’t go to school on a high level, they will just help with the basic need in lower work

level such as plumber. If people could go to college for free, they wouldn’t be having a lot of

loan where they could end up being broke and not being able to pay. If they are able to go to

college for free, they could provide for themselves such as meals, rent, and etc. There would be

less poverty with many jobs opportunity with the skills they learn. According to Rebecca Mead,

staff writer for The New Yorker, college teaches students "To nurture critical thought; to expose

individuals to the signal accomplishments of humankind; to develop in them an ability not just to

listen actively but to respond intelligently;" all of which "are habits of mind…from which a letter

carrier, no less than a college professor, might derive a sense of self-worth." (internal citation)

Every year, students loans increases. College should be free where all students are able to

access to education whenever the time comes. Many students are worried about the debts.

Education should inspire people, not overthink. It is not only about debts, but they are also

willing to starve themselves. Even though they have a part time jobs, they can’t just get rid of it

in a few months. They might have to work more than ten years to pay off the debt. They will

lose concentration on debt instead of education. Financial aid are what students rely on now a

days and most of the time it’s just not enough. According to “The two-way breaking from NPR”

by Bill Chappell, “The new figures from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that

from 2007 to 2011, the percentage of undergraduate students who depend on federal loans and

grants jumped from 47 percent to 57 percent. And it's not just the neediest students — students in

all socioeconomic groups are increasingly dependent on government aid. Students who rely on

government aid receive about $8,200 on average. But this is climbing, too, because college
tuition and fees at public institutions are going up." (internal citation)

If the U.S. doesn’t provide free college, U.S. will most likely to fall behind in education

and economic than other country due to high tuition. Just the high school diploma won’t really

help the economy. ​According to “The education issue” by Adam Davison. In the 1970s, the

United States ranked first globally for college attainment; today, among people 25 to 34, it ranks

14th, having fallen behind many other industrialized nations. The Organization for Economic

Cooperation and Development has singled out the United States as being particularly deficient in

one measure: the chances are greater than 70 percent that an american will not attend college if

his or her parents does not have a college degree. (internal citation)

​ Even though college will be free, there’s a lot of responsibility to paid each months other

than tuitions. If students don’t have debt they could save up to buy houses and consumers items

such groceries, tissue, cleaning products and etc. Students will not only have a good career but

they will also have a good future.

Overall, college tuition should be free for students who are eligible because it will help

students stay away from stress due to debt, improve our economy and decreases poverty rate. A

lot of students have big dream and mostly their dream is to become whatever they want be.

People who couldn’t afford to go college would be able to go; money should not be the reason to

stop them. In addition, free tuition for eligible students will provides them with equal opportunity

as everyone else’s. These students would also contribute more to the economy, job growth and

it’ll reduce poverty rate. Most importantly, It’s great for our nation to show that we are educated

people and will encourage more people to go college.

 Free college for eligible students matter because many college students in United States

relates to this situation and students from lower socioeconomic background can’t afford such

expensive education that also comes with debt. They wouldn’t have to worry about money or

payment due. They would more time to prepared for their classes. Therefore I believe everyone

deserve free education and equal opportunity. Our society should be concerned about it because

education & knowledge play a major role in keeping our civilization running. Having high level

of educations can lead to many opportunities in life. The government won’t waste their money

spending on these intelligent students who deserved free educations.

 Works Cited

Bayer, Casey. “What Does Free College Really Mean?” ​Harvard Graduate School of Education,​
17 Jan. 2017, ​www.gse.harvard.edu/news/17/01/what-does-free-college-really-mean​.

Powell, Farran. “See Where Tuition-Free College Is Offered.” ​U.S. News & World Report,​ U.S.
News & World Report, 19 Sept. 2018,
www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2018-02-01/these-states-of
fer-tuition-free-college-programs​.

Nelson, Libby. “How Much Debt Does the Average Student Have?” ​Vox,​ 28 Mar. 2014,
www.vox.com/cards/student-debt/how-much-debt-does-the-average-student-have​.

Rab, Sara Goldrick. “Opinion | Of Course, Low-Income Students Win with Free Tuition.” ​The
Washington Post​, WP Company, 6 Jan. 2017,
www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/01/06/of-course-low-income-students-win
-with-free-tuition/?utm_term=.652e98547bb9​.

Josephson, Amelia. “The Pros and Cons of Free College.” ​SmartAsset,​ SmartAsset, 18 May
2018, ​https://smartasset.com/student-loans/the-pros-and-cons-of-free-college

NA. “Should College Be Free? Here's What You Need to Consider.” ​Trade-Schools.net,​ 24 Sept.
2018, ​www.trade-schools.net/articles/should-college-be-free.asp​.

Holland, Kelley. “Looking for the next Crisis? Try Student Debt.” ​CNBC​, CNBC, 15 June 2015,
www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/the-high-economic-and-social-costs-of-student-loan-debt.html​.

Bergeron, David A., and Carmel Martin. “Strengthening Our Economy Through College for
All.” ​Center for American Progress​, 19 Feb. 2015,
www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-postsecondary/reports/2015/02/19/105522/strength
ening-our-economy-through-college-for-all/​.

Mead, Rebecca. “Learning By Degrees.” ​The New Yorker​, The New Yorker, 19 June 2017,
www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/06/07/learning-by-degrees​.
Davidson, Adam. “Is College Tuition Really Too High?” ​The New York Times,​ The New York
Times, 8 Sept. 2015, ​www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/magazine/is-college-tuition-too-high.html​.

Chappell, Bill. “More College Students Rely On Federal Aid, Study Says” ​NPR,​ 20 Aug. 2013.
Https://Www.npr.org/Sections/Thetwo-Way/2013/08/20/213901963/More-College-Students-Rel
y-on-Federal-Aid-Study-Says

Schrager, Allison. “This Is What Would Happen If College Tuition Became Free in America.”
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