Argumentative Essay: Should College Education Be Free?

In today’s society a person is only as good as their name printed on a thin destructible piece of paper, we call a diploma. We judge a person’s worth and intelligence off of the suffix one holds before their name “Dr”. The suffix Dr, immediately puts the idea in one’s mind that this person is intelligent, trusting, and of course wealthy. Shouldn’t everyone have the ability to reach that level of education or at least some type of degree? A college degree or higher is what society expects everyone to have, if they want to live a life with an amazing salary and an educated lifestyle; however this is not the reality of life. Although the world is pro-college, reality is that most people are unable to attend and obtain the lifestyle that getting a degree promises. As a nation, even if people oppose the idea, free education should be granted to all individuals. With free education college will be more accessible to all classes within society, students will leave colleges with a degree and debt free, and it will

open up equal and more opportunities for all people. Free education will be the change to make America a more educated and equal country.

Throughout history the idea of free education has been tossed and thrown around political parties. US citizens around the world often debate the heated topic, because some people believe college is a privilege and if you work hard enough no matter the cost opportunities are out there. Others feel that if college is granted to all people who would end up paying for it and how it would effect our government. Well In 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes became the first president who was for total free universal education. “Universal suffrage should rest upon universal education,” he said in his inaugural address, adding that “liberal and permanent provision should be made for the support of free schools.” Being a Republican, HAynes cared nothing about the idea of the poor are just receiving a handout or that the wealthy will be excluded from this opportunity. For him, education was the basis for full economic and political participation, and full participation was the basis for all prosperity. An education should be available to all regardless of ones social ecomic standing.
In 1940, majority of young people was graduating high school and transitioning into a good paying job which included benefits. A couple with a sole breadwinner could buy a home, raise a family and send their kids to college. That was the American dream. Unfortunately, today, for too many Americans, it’s not a possibility. from high school seniors and their parents and even working professionals affordability is the biggest concern discussed when deciding to attend college these days. With college costs rising faster than just about any other product on the market, cost has become the barrier to higher education that race and gender once were.
The U.S use to be one of the richest and strongest nation in the world, however as time progressed the numbers of scholars we produced have declined as tuition rose. In today's political campaigns, such as the presidential election, Candidate Bernie Sanders agrees that college education should be free for all students. Like citizens and a few politicians, he has the shared belief that it will benefit rather than harm the economy. Allowing access to a higher education will produce more scholars who ultimately develop more businesses and expand society into greater depths. With this being a good option as to why education at the college ppart should be free people have a counter arugment as to why this logic is beyond flawed.
Today there are many supporters for students paying for college often have the perceived idea that it will make the students lazy and not as motivated. Money is also an issue as well to these people. Concerns involving cost would be that taxes will raise drastically or that the government will have to focus its spending on the education system and not other important resources such as roads, hospitals, and armed forces. Neglecting the idea that a vast majority of the population simple can not afford a degree that effortlessly welcomes them in upper society. People who simply oppose to the idea overall fail to realize that free college level education has several advantages that may even benefit them one day.
The cost to obtain a college degree and hopefully enter society with a higher paying job than you would with a high diploma is outrageous and for some people in society the price is unrealistic. In a recent study done by the college board foundation they found that the cost to attend a public in state college during the academic year of 2015-2016 the average person will spend close to $24,000, and to attend a private school about $48,000 (http://www.collegedata.com/cs/content/content_payarticle_tmpl.jhtml?articleId=10064). Just viewing the numbers will immediately reject several people away from the idea of college. Living in a world where society is divided into classes and based upon money, the cost of college inadvertently eliminates the large portion of society who simply can not afford to send a child to college and still maintain a stable lifestyle at home. PewResearch did a study on all the classes within society that had a three person household. Having a three person and being middle class your average income will be approximately be $41,869 to $125,608 in 2014. Lower-income households had incomes less than $41,869 and upper-income households had incomes greater than $125,608(http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/09/are-you-in-the-american-middle-class/). Ability to attend a college creates a gap within society become classes. The cost alone sets a standard for who can attend what school. Sadly people living in poverty struggle to obtain a degree that parts of society can afford.
Making tuition thousands of dollars a year makes a immediate divide within our nation. Rather than segregation of race or gender it's a battle between the classes. Being wealthy, college will benefit you more than harm. With college expenses being so high only the wealthy and a portion of the middle class will be able to see their children earn a degree while still living a basic or stable lifestyle at home. This ambiguous selection allows the cycle of poverty and limited education to continue. With granting free education for all people, families who never had anyone attend college will be able to allow their children equal and fair opportunity. No matter your social standing in society everyone should be given the opportunity to receive higher education.
As college gets more expensive and funds become more scarce loans become a popular falling back plan for college students. A loan is designed to assist with financial resources during the college years, however it's a catch, like anything involving money there has to be a reimbursement. Studies have shown that majority of the students who graduate from a public or private college is set back in loan debt. In North Carolina 61 percent of graduates are in debt of $25,000 to $29,000. “Over the last decade—from 2004 to 2014—the share of graduates with debt rose modestly (from 65% to 69%) while average debt at graduation rose at more than twice the rate of inflation. http://ticas.org/posd/map-state-data-2015# . Debt ultimately means the time and money you spent trying to obtain a degree is more time and money you have to repay your dues back to the government. However realistically a student fresh out of college will not be able to repay such loans. Millions of former students are still working in hopes to finally be debt free. If 69 % of students from north carolina are in debt that percentage alone puts a major strain on our government. Being thousands of dollars in debt is not the best way to start a new improved lifestyle. Scholars everywhere are unemployed and over underemployed , being forced to relocate to their parents household. With large sums of debt, it increases poverty, hurts economic jobs ,such as house realtors, and lowers the marriage rate. A person who is stepping into society fresh from college debt free will more than likely contribute better to society. Debt is a major issue people have about college it leaves the poor poorer and even affects the rich to become stable again while contributing to society.
Some people lack to see how the expenses of college has actually affect America's economy when actually we are losing valued scholars from the lack of transition to free and equal education. A recent report discovered that In Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Mexico, public colleges and universities remain tuition-free. They’re free throughout Germany, too, and not just for Germans or Europeans but for international citizens as well. That’s why every year, more than 4,600 students leave the United States and enroll in German universities. As our scholars seek cheaper opportunities for education and travelling experience, other nations gain individuals who benefit their society. The idea of a free education opportunity in a new country attracts young people across the nation, as our scholars leave the country they also leave the debt, thousands of dollars and inequality in the states.
As students began deciding if college is for them they come across the debate that college education should be free.

Thousands of dollars for a degree to be welcomed in society to receive a decent job and even respect. As years pass the cost for a degree increases and the gap between the rich and the poor widens. To create equality and opportunity education should be free. Students should not have to pay to contribute to society with their knowledge. Although this topic is a heated debate many people believe that college should be free, while others are scared that free education will ultimately mean higher taxes and will leave society in greater debt. Understanding both sides, the Nation as a whole will benefit from free education because students will from college debt free, more opportunity will open, and the gap with society will decrease. It's time to build a nation off of scholars and inventors again, the only way to achieve that is to allow free

education.