Lowering College Tuition

Several students are disheartened when it comes to college due to increasing prices of tuition yearly. Most will agree that we need a further cultivated society, but to accomplish this, we must take in consideration lowering the expenses of college tuition. It is recognized that decreasing college tuition does have various drawbacks. For example, it may cut into funds for items such as classroom equipment, essentials, staff pay, administration, and dormitories (Goodman). Nevertheless, lowering college tuition will encourage more students to attend college, relieve students of the stressful burdens of loans, while also creating a better educated society, which will be beneficial to everyone in the long run.
Quite a few may be against lowering college tuition, because they feel as though it will devalue college as an entirety. For instance, several believe that college is a form of higher education that should be given to those who are diligently driven to become further knowledgeable, but lowering tuition would also give those who were not so hardworking an option to proceed to college as well. Thus, a college diploma would have less worth. Additionally, while college attendance may grow, added funds will be needed as the college’s

population increases. For example, larger dormitories and advanced classrooms.
A vast number of students will be motivated to further their education after high school if the cost of college is reduced; they will have a greater sense of hope knowing that there is a greater likelihood for them to attend college. Every student does not have the luxury of receiving scholarships and grants, they depend solely on limited amounts provided by Financial Aid; the rest will result in colossal amounts of student loans. The thought of the burdens of student loans frightens everyone. “The average graduate last year walked away from university with both a diploma and $24,000 in student loans,” notes journalist Barkawi, “Some even say they graduate with debts from loans that reach six figures.” Most will concur that debt is a towering problem in our country. More than one trillion dollars of debt belong to student loans alone. The average graduate student from the Class of 2016 has already reached over $37,000 in debt from their first year of college (“U.S. Student”). Student loans are not only affecting those individuals, it is also putting a toll on their families and on our economy. With so many loans, they are preventing people from doing everyday life activities such as, having a family of their own, purchasing houses, owning businesses, and while also getting in the way of retirement preparation. They have little money to spend, let alone save, which is hurting the economy (“Slash”). Lowering college tuition will not get rid of the heavy weight of stress on students, but it will surely diminish it.
Although many may have suitable reasons for wanting to keep college tuition at the same rate, agreeing to lower tuition has even better benefits.

If the problem of increasing tuition subsides, both students and our society will be at an advantage. Today’s youth are the future business leaders of our civilization, and it is unquestionably important that they are well equipped with knowledge in order to succeed and to keep a well-balanced society. We need a country with better critical thinking skills. To ensure that, students must have a higher education than what is given in high school. Secondly, society will benefit, as a result of lowering tuition, since students will need smaller amounts of loans, which will lower debt as a

whole.
One possible compromise could be for colleges and universities to provide greater numbers of online classes. In doing so, higher numbers of students are able to progress their education by taking online classes, which are less costly than traditional classes. This will also play a part in reducing tuition, by the reason of, less funds for staffs and classrooms being needed (Haynie). Online classes would also be beneficial to the students because they only have to pay for classes; no additional fees are needed, for example, the cost of meal plans and on campus residences becomes an option not a necessity.
It is understandable that people may be against lowering college tuition, seeing that the cutbacks of other college essentials would have to take place, but at the same time, it is not fair to the students that tuition has continued to increase yearly. Although it is difficult for colleges and universities to decrease tuition, it is important that compromises, such as, online education are made more accessible. It is in everyone’s best interest to ensure an improved educated society. Additional efforts have to be done for the well-being of our nation.