Argumentative Essay: Should Colleges Be Free?

The discussion of whether colleges should or should not be free has been debated over many years. Understandably, both sides have strong reasonings; however, this debate has not led to any solutions. By allowing colleges to be free, many students who could not afford community colleges now have access to an education that is required for most well-paying jobs. On the other hand, if colleges do become free, the cost of tuition would be burdened on US taxpayers. A potential solution to this complicated issue is that the cost of tuition should be lowered and that federal budget should be slightly increased to make colleges somewhat more affordable, without having to burden the entire cost of tuition for millions of college students on the shoulders

of US taxpayers. By doing so, an agreement has been made that suits both sides of the debate. However, the issue becomes more complicated as the tuition of community colleges are not that expensive, which therefore lead to anger in US taxpayers as well resistance from them. Many people are too caught up in their own problems that they are not able to help other people’s problems or just plainly don’t want to give away the money they earned from the job that they may or may not have gotten due to a college education that way paid by them to others that are not willing to waste a couple of thousand of dollars on community college. It seems to be a debate that always leads to no solution; however a solution is needed in order to influence the decisions of those deciding to go to community college.
If community colleges were to become free, many students would have access to free education. Since college may seem optional, it is actually a necessity, nowadays, for a well-paying and steady job. In order to close the gap between lower class and middle class, people would need to give skills that would be useful in the workforce, which would allow them to get a steady job in order to move them up to the middle class. Although community college is not very costly, those who see a price tag do not consider it. If community college was free, many more would consider the opportunity of education without the price tag. Once more people become hopeful or consider this opportunity, the want for a good job become a necessity because if they have the ability to attain a well-paying job, they will most definitely take up the offer of a free college. Once they do go to community college and get a diploma, they will be more likely to get a job that could get themselves out of the lower class and into the middle class. Seemingly, the American Dream is attained by going to college since one has the potential of social ascension. Once social ascension has occurred, the gap between lower class and middle class shrinks. Once they are in the middle class, that person is now able to afford more products and therefore allows them to buy products, which is good for the economy if more people buy products, then the economy will start to boom. A healthy economy needs more people to buy products which creates more wealth. Furthermore, if the access to a college is greatly increased, then equal opportunity amongst everyone will be evident and not many will be subject to inequity.
However, US taxpayers don't want college to be free because they’re taking money from them, while taxpayers aren’t personally benefitted. The money taken from taxes all derived from a job the taxpayer may have gone to school for, which ultimately makes it unfair to them personally because they had to make means to afford college, whether that was through loans or saved up money. Another argument that the opposers may present is that community college is affordable enough for everyone; if a person does not have a low income in their family, then they are able to get financial aid and even if they don’t have a low income, they are able to take out a loan like most students in college do. The big argument is like “most other students”. This then therefore leads to the conclusion that those potential students are not as motivated to get the education that is needed for a good paying job. If they were as motivated as those students, then they would find a way to get the money in order to go to college such as loans. Most people who go to college have to get loans in order to afford college. Those loans taken out used to pay for tuition are a motivator to get a good paying job because if they don’t then they are in financial trouble. Moreover, the motivation in the potential students is what sometimes seems to be lacking or nonexistent. Those who don’t go to college choose that education is not a path worth taking, and that is solely a decision made by themself.
The argument I find convincing is that gap between the lower class and the middle class with be decreased because a lot of people will have the same equal opportunity to be successful.

This can help a lot of lower class because this gives them an opportunity to have a good job that gives sufficient money. This can be a good change and help out of families out. I personally am in the lower class and I understand the struggles of being in the lower class and wanting to socially ascend into the middle class to be able to better support myself. If this would ever happen this would affect a lot of lower class families or first generation people coming to America and it would bring a lot of opportunity for them. Considering that most first generation people are not as wealthy as those who have been in America through generations of living here, the need for free community college is a big leap for immigrants. Free community colleges would be a sign for support of those in need of it or do not have it. It essentially is a pat on the back signalling that the government takes into account all citizens and not only those who are wealthy. If we start to considering everyone equally, then we will live up to the name “The United States”. Although I may have a bias opinion on this matter because it affects me personally, I do find the arguments of those opposing free college to be convincing. It is clear to most people that some of those who do not go to college simply do not want to put in the work or the effort needed. However, I do find that argument to be somewhat false. Not all students are unmotivated to school work, but the other percentage of students may not be able to afford community college. We need to take into account all aspects of each side’s argument in order to wholly understand the issue that many are arguing

about.
Evidently, the argument of those who support colleges gets somewhat debunked within the argument of those who do not support it and vice versa. Whether there is a need for the gap between middle class and lower class to dwindle or the need for US taxpayers to not be required to pay for other people’s burdens, there needs to be a decision made in order to ease the worry of both those wanting to go to college free, as well as US taxpayers. If an agreement were made, this debate would come to a peaceful end, but since each side believes that their position is the correct one, the want for an agreement is nonexistent because of such childish behavior. Hopefully in the future, this childish behavior will transform into a mature one and lead both sides to a peaceful agreement. If this issue is left unresolved, then worry will continue to persist within each side. However troubling, a sacrifice is needed to be done by either the supporters or opposers.