The Price of Education Is Hard to Blame

It is no secret that education is one of the priorities for many individuals. Over the years higher education seems like a distant dream to many for different reasons. While there is many scholarships available not all prospective students qualify, leaving them with a feeling of incompetence and desperation. Even students who do qualify for FAFSA and grants are left to pay for expensive books, and transportation, on top of the remaining tuition which is very expensive regardless of where you go for college.

Many students regardless if they have graduated or not can tell from experience how beneficial a chance at free community college would be for all past, current, and future students. Although it seems like a far fetched idea there is Community Colleges in different cities already experimenting with the idea. The chance of completing what most schools call Gen-eds (General Education subjects) is an opportunity at reducing your debt in the long run. Schools begin partnerships with Universities to transfer the credit hours for those students who do wish to continue furthering their education, or to help apply for to programs that can get you licensed for a job.

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There is many careers to fall in love with and every single student has a passion for something even if it’s because they have a small amount of interest. The only way students are allowed to further their education is by taking a chance and in some cases having to be gifted the opportunity to pursue a career.

For many years the United States education system was ahead of the curve compared to many other countries. Within the last years other countries realized the flaws of making higher education expensive and unreachable for many. Now the country has fallen behind the educational curve compared to the few countries that have fixed the flaws in their education system. The cost for tuition constantly continues to rise, this pushes many students to look elsewhere for low rates causing enrollment rates to drop in their local campuses. Tuition being lower if you stay within the state you reside in did not help keep students from looking for cheaper options. Free Community College will benefit students who are afraid to go to big Universities due to lack of financial support. Many may think that the idea of free Community College will reduced the amount of students who attend four year Universities and people who enlist. However the number of students enlisting or attending universities isn't dropping. Essentially free Community College is preparing them for what can be the next step in life whichever way they decide to go.

The idea of free Community Colleges should be accepted nationwide because it helps students, veterans, and single parents go to school without being in debt. It is a great considering how many people in the country do not qualify for FAFSA, due to different reasons. However even for those who do qualify for FAFSA still have a hard time paying since tuition isn’t fully covered. Students are not the only ones asking and pushing for a change, there has been plans to try and have the Financial Aid System do more than what they are offering to do. By reading “Redesigning the Financial Aid System: Why College and Universities Should Switch Roles with the Federal Government” it explains how it is a problem and a plan of action the author has come up with.

“I have not titled the book The Solution to the Crisis in Financial Aid, because there is no crisis. No one will fall off a cliff if the financial aid system is not fixed properly. It is more accurate to say that the financial aid system is poorly designed and, as a result, chronically underperforms. Because“crisis” is much more exciting than “chronic underperformance,” the failures of the financial aid system do not get the attention they deserve. Nevertheless, the costs of a poorly running financial aid system are real: despite a significant commitment of public funds, some students are not able to obtain a higher education, and others face severely limited choices”(Archibald). The problem with the system is more than just money, it is not giving all the same opportunity because it is not necessarily “needs based” as it should be even if it does seem that way by all the documentation they request. The system is also not considering the cost of books, transportation to and from school, and extra materials professors may request which can be very expensive for some. Students do their best effort to qualify for scholarships that schools begin to distribute among students who apply earlier and meet the requirements. However many of these merit based scholarships that are given are divided throughout the four years it would take for a student to graduate with a bachelor's degree.

It is very sad to see that students have become terrified by the idea of potentially drowning in debt for years. It is scary regardless if you come from a family of College graduates or are a first generation; tuition rates and interest rates for loans continue to increase more and more every year. “There is not a single loan crisis, but there are many crises, ranging from the fact that most students loan crisis have no more than a vague idea of how much they’ve borrowed, to the hundreds of thousands of thousands of borrowers needlessly defaulting on their student loans, to the pockets of students who are making decisions that lead to predictably bad completion and repayment outcomes. These are pressing problems that need solutions, but unfortunately the myth of a broad-based loan crisis has led to well-intentioned but poorly targeted policy proposals aimed at all borrowers, which work to the benefit of those with the most debt rather than those in the greatest distress” (Ehrenberg). There is not a single college student that can tell you how much in debt they are exactly, they vaguely remember how much they have borrowed throughout the years. Just talking about it has them on the verge of a mental breakdown because they feel so overwhelmed, which is understandable. It is very ironic that to have a career that will one day provide everything you need one has to go in debt and try to dig yourself out as soon as possible.

The idea of Community College being free nationwide should also be open for students regardless of their income and most importantly their citizenship status. These students are referred as DREAMERS, which means they weren’t born within the United States but instead brought here illegally by a family member in search for a better life. In some cases these Dreamers overstayed their Visas or were brought under different circumstances making them identify as DREAMERS. Students who aren’t here legally get discouraged from attending college because they don’t qualify for student loans unless they find private loans to apply for. Along with this they do not qualify for FAFSA and are considered as international students by many schools for not being able to provide proof of being born here. When schools consider them international students they are charged way more for tuition.

While DREAMERS can attend public schools and High Schools thanks to the law set by the Plyer V. Doe in 1982 that states, “The United States Supreme Court held that undocumented school children could attend public schools without regard to their immigration status” (Olivias). Yet this does not extend to Colleges and Universities. DREAMERS deserve the same opportunity to attend any school they want to achieve their dream career. Of course not all schools count undocumented students as international students which allows them to pursue their career. It is very motivating to know that there is professionals now because they pushed through all the odds, “In 1997, noncitizens earned about 29 percent of all the doctoral degrees that they granted. In key scientific and engineering fields, the percentages were much higher. For example, 53 percent of the doctoral degrees awarded in engineering and 49 percent of those awarded in the mathematical and computer sciences fields in 1997 went to noncitizens” (Ehrenberg). Throughout the years undocumented students are achieving something that seemed nearly impossible. What is also helping undocumented students to continue school is DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). DACA is accepted by many schools and is giving thousands of students and opportunity to go back enroll at schools, while also allowing them to obtain jobs.

With the idea of free college because this can push people to pursue a higher education besides High School and Community College. Many students have in their mind to attend a big four year University and graduate on time. Students want that experience movies and t.v. shows show in which you move away and discover who you are has a person. For those who don’t have the opportunity to go straight after High School the opportunity of having two years of free Community College will help them get a better idea of what they want has a career and they have more time to save money for when the time to transfer to a University. It encourages students to want more education because more school means more money, “High school graduates make more money than high school dropouts; people who complete some college earn more than high school grads; college graduates make considerably more than those who leave college before graduation; and those who complete advanced degrees earn more than college graduates.

These are big differences; in 2012, the average weekly earnings of those with PhDs or professional degrees were more than three times greater than for high school dropouts, while those with just a bachelor’s degree averaged about 65 percent more than high school graduates” (Eric Best, Joel Best). Having an Associates Degree will help bring in more money for students that decide to work and attend a four year in comparison to a student who will have to work a job with a high school diploma while trying to obtain a higher education. The idea that the longer one stays in school the more money they will make has been proven to be true by all professionals who have made it through college regardless of any debt. Of course there is those few that have made it beyond without a college degree. It is very rare that any of those people will make six figures and then require their workers to have a college degree. A degree is needed for almost every job now. Employers want employees who put their time into a career that they will be able to enforce, which benefits both parties involved.

It is important for everyone to know who can benefit from free Community College, and what are the steps to make it happen. We need to look at the long term benefits, for the school, the student, and the economy. A chance at free College classes is important for people who want to get a better job, considering that more jobs are requiring a college diploma for higher pay. The school graduation percentages will continue to rise because students will be motivated to achieve a goal. All students will include recent high school graduates, single parents, people waiting to join the armed forces or those who are returning home. It also helps to turn the transition to the workforce easier because they will have more knowledge. It also helps when colleges have certain programs that can help them get licensed for the jobs that they need. It won’t be easy get all Community Colleges nationwide to accept this concept.

However, the change will begins with all voters and specially students who can vote to show that student or parents we all want everyone to be educated to their full potential. Everyone should inform themselves more about the possibilities of free Community College and how it can become a nation wide possibility for all regardless of income, past education, or citizenship status. There is people running for government seats who believe that free community college works. They have ideas on how to make it better and how to push the money for it. Students who live in cities who are already experimenting the idea of free Community college should push to show that it is actually working for them by sharing their success stories. It may seem like an issue to give many students free tuition because where is the money coming from? Tax money can be used to fund, instead of wasting it on other ideas that aren’t as beneficial to lower income population or to the country as a whole. Money can be donated from business who are seeking College graduates to expand their business by having future graduates work for them in exchange of covering their tuition cost.

The City Colleges of Chicago can be a a great example has to how schools can distribute free tuition to see how well it can work for them. Requirements will be set by the schools, but for the most part it should be based of grades and standardized test scores like scholarships. Essentially it should be considered scholarship which City Colleges of Chicago is already calling it. The “STAR” scholarship is given for two to three years which is enough time to get your associates. Students get free tuition for 60 credit hours, books are also paid for, and students also receive a pass at no cost to use public transportation. Some guidelines of the scholarship are that you must be a resident of Chicago, graduate from a public school, and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Along with this you must have meet the SAT/ACT test scores requirements and prove on a placement test that your are college level ready. However the scholarship can be taken away if your GPA is below standards. With the STAR Scholarship students are given the chance of transferring to a four year University after graduating. City Colleges of Chicago have partnerships with multiple schools and business to help reach that next goal in your life.

Overall free Community College is possible, there are many schools that are already on the path for free education at the College level. It is important for every student to be given the opportunity to get a degree in their dream career. A person's financial or citizenship status should not get in the way of a person's aspirations to better themselves. The United States is suppose to be the nation of equal opportunities for all. This equality should include higher education, because has a country we will get further when we all have knowledge and more work ready people. We can only go back to being ahead of the educational curve by redesigning the Financial Aid System which is where we have the most flaws. It should be a system that is open for all who want to continue furthering their education and give more “need based” help instead of first come first serve has is seems to be for FAFSA or any scholarship funds. This movement for Education can be big and help many people who are in debt and never finished school in order to avoid more debt. This will give a chance to pay back anything they owed while still pursuing their degree. Students can only hope that the idea of free Community College is accepted by all states and all community colleges in the nation.

Essentially for the idea of a free associate's degree expands to a free bachelors, masters, and even a PhD. We will only reach free College education to all big and small universities if we demonstrate that it will be worth it. Schools will get more students to enroll with this opportunity and it’s a chance at becoming a more diverse system. Not only should some schools to be able to provide this opportunity, but it should be nationwide to avoid having to look for cheaper options elsewhere. This wave of debt is debilitating our economy, so much debt is pushing people away from wanting to buy new houses and cars because no one wants to get into more debt. It is like a never ending tunnel, we will all continue to live the same life in the same houses, the same schools, and the same jobs as the generations before when instead we should be giving future generations something to surpass.