After young students earn their General Educational Development (GED), they are faced with the option of continuing their studies at a college or university or pursuing another option . However, not all students are realistically able to obtain a free college education. Students who come from a financially less well-off family tend to have difficulty meeting financial requirements for tuition and other fees, even if they choose to attend a public college rather than a university. The average cost of tuition at two-year institutions has increased rapidly in recent decades; in 1985, required tuition for a full academic year averaged $971, and in 2017 required tuition averaged $6,817 (National Center for Education Statistics). This is an increase of 602.06% over the course of thirty-two years. In today's business world, a college degree plays a crucial role in success. Wealthier Americans are advantaged and therefore more likely to earn a college degree, which is unreasonable in today's society, where the middle and working classes make up the majority. All young Americans should have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream, which is the ideal of “upward economic mobility measured by family income and family wealth. The American Dream is a construct designed to foster a sense of cohesion, importance, and value to an American identity.” This essay discusses why college should be free for all students so that every growing individual has a chance to get a free college education, has a chance to discover financial stability in today's economy, and has equal opportunity to succeed in a career.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Students are offered opportunities such as government-sponsored financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other loans or grants to assist college payments; And while the FAFSA helps support many students throughout their college experience, the FAFSA need calculation only displays a student's financial status at one point in time, ignoring changes over the course of several years. Furthermore, the role of parental support is not fully considered; “FAFSA need calculations are heavily weighted based on parents' income and assets without any knowledge of parents' willingness or ability to support their children going to college.” Students who face unique challenges, such as family obligations or a lack of family support, sometimes do not receive extra funding that would help them get to college. People have also voiced their criticisms of filling out the paperwork for the FAFSA process, and it's clear that there is room for reform; “The length, complexity and timeframe of the FAFSA have left many students, parents and institutions frustrated, prompting politicians to call for reform.” If low-income students or doubtful parents feel they can't get the help they need through this form, they will likely feel less motivated to ask for it at first. Low-income and minority students with ambitions to obtain a higher education often do not understand the financial aid system, college admissions requirements and costs, and have difficulty with the application system. If this process were eliminated completely ereplaced with free tuition, people would not have trouble applying for financial aid effectively, and rising tuition prices would not have such a negative impact on educational opportunities. Furthermore, even when students do apply for financial aid, they may not receive the help they need and deserve. Unable to meet financial requirements, many young people never attend college or drop out at some point before earning their degree. Higher education is becoming less accessible and the student debt crisis is spreading across the United States, including at public institutions. New research shows that the student debt crisis has focused on a specific group of students; non-traditional students attending two-year institutions such as community colleges, as expressed in the following quote; “Half of all student borrowers in 2011 attended a for-profit college or two-year college, yet this group accounted for 70% of defaults, according to economists Adam Looney of the Treasury Department and Constantine Yannelis of Stanford University ". Generally, nontraditional students are older or first-generation students who tend to live in poorer neighborhoods and do not attend college immediately after graduating from high school. When this group begins looking for work, they typically do not earn as much or benefit from their degrees to the same extent as traditional students who complete four years at public or private institutions. This student population accounts for the majority of the spike in student debt. Since this group contributes the most to the student debt crisis and is the group that needs it the most, it is clear that a change needs to be made. Community colleges provide students with a local learning environment and the idea of ​​equal opportunity for post-secondary education. . This goal is evident in the common policies of two-year public universities: “in open admissions, in the flexible scheduling of evening and weekend classes and in locations convenient to students, and in the practice of offering almost all the educational experiences required of students feel they need." Attending a two-year college is a great way to start your post-secondary education and relieve the stress imposed by student loans. On the other hand, concerned observers often complain that students who opt for community college face injustice from the state, because although they have a lower tuition price, they also receive lower and smaller subsidies outlays for their education compared to students attending university. public institutions. It is clear that community colleges may be receiving less than their fair share of aid, as illustrated in the following quote; “Twenty-two percent of federal student aid funds go to community colleges, while they enroll 34 percent of all students and serve an underserved clientele.” The assumption is that the absence of adequate support creates subservient educational opportunities, which is particularly inconvenient from the perspective of the less affluent student body at community colleges. In terms of occasionally marginalized students in higher education, the Pell Grant is the primary form of student aid that does not require repayment. The Pell Grant is the most common grant program; offers annual payments of up to $5,500 (maximum in 2012) for low-income students at eligible institutions. One way an applicant can become eligible is through the federal methodology that uses the EFC (expected family contribution) result ofa family on the FAFSA. Because Pell eligibility is assigned based on the net costs faced by a student in a variety of enrollment options, an applicant's Cost of Attendance (COA) varies by school, making a student Pell eligible at a school but not suitable in another. This could mean that the school that may be the closest or most likely option for a student to attend may be out of reach. Therefore, many young people who qualify for higher education and wish to study may not be able to do so. The burden of student costs and debt could be completely erased if free college were offered to students willing to put in the work. A Charleston newspaper article published in 2015 states: “Until the early 1990s, most college students did not take out loans to finance their education. Now, however, nearly three in four college graduates have taken out loans to cover college expenses, racking up an average debt of $30,000 each. As a result, American student loan debt now stands at $1.3 trillion.” Free higher education would ease the pressure on all students, as well as non-students, while allowing economic mobility for those whose circumstances prevent them from entering university without the constant reminder of debt weighing them down. Even when students get the aid they need to continue their education, over the years many accumulate a huge amount of student debt, which can cause negative effects. The burden of debt can make entry into the job market for graduates significantly more difficult. Many young people can only afford to attend university by simultaneously working long hours in low-paying jobs (which reduces the time that could be spent studying) and/or by accumulating huge debts. This creates situations where students are time and money poor, which leads to burnout and stress, which can undermine the achievement levels of poorer students and lead to jeopardizing student achievement, as described in the quote following; "Laura Choi of the Federal Reserve Bank reports that economic stress has been extremely harmful to individuals' physical and mental health, and that this emotional burden has led to increased workplace absenteeism, decreased job performance, and depression." . If the financial burden required for so many people to get an education could be alleviated, then it could certainly help people and set them up for future success by simply making their lives a little easier. Student debt is taking a toll on new graduates; to the extent that they may feel as if they should avoid making some large-scale progress. A survey titled “Student Loan Debt: Who Pays the Price?” reveals a number of noteworthy statistics about the influence of student loans on college graduates. For example, the survey found that: 50% of respondents said they had been held back from purchasing a home, 64% said current debt would prevent them from earning a new college degree, 56% said that the loans prevented him from buying a car. , 21% are struggling to start a family, 49% said they would delay getting engaged or married due to their debt, and 50% agreed that student loans have limited their career choices. This information makes it indisputable that the lives of many graduates are centered on the memory of the debt accumulated for obtaining a degree which is a necessary component forearn a lot of money in most modern career fields. Additionally, if many graduates put off large-scale purchases due to student debt, it impacts the economy as a whole. There are many benefits to individuals and society from additional post-high school education; for example, at the individual level, it can lead to higher wages, as well as better consumption choices and better health. If young people can stay focused on building their careers and futures, this individual well-being will also contribute to the well-being of the country. On a societal level, “higher education is associated with greater community involvement, reduced unemployment, reduced crime, and greater charitable contributions of time and money.” Adding two more years to existing free primary and secondary education will not solve most existing social or economic problems; it's just a step in the right direction and promotes community health and a prosperous society. These personal and social benefits are of substantial value to “governments at all levels; thanks to these earnings, tax revenues increase and expenses for welfare and assistance programs are reduced". Ultimately, making college free and therefore extremely affordable and accessible could be in the best interest not only of students, but also of the economy. People who are not in favor of free community college often say it could lead to waiting lists, which could cause academic problems. underperformance and that it could reduce the quality of the learning environment, all of which are plausible concerns. Considering the waitlist topic, free college could undeniably result in waitlists or an insufficient number of available classes. However, if it were more difficult to secure a place in class, this could discourage students from taking it for granted. Most community college students earn a two-year degree, further professional training, or the first two years of a bachelor's degree, so students can get in and out of college more quickly, as long as they have the ability to move on and take responsibility. career or have received additional education at a four-year university. Therefore, waiting lists could perhaps push students to demonstrate why they are eligible for a place at that school, which also leads to the next proposed problem: poor academic performance. When debating whether a university education should be free, it is important to note that this does not guarantee that students who enroll in those courses will thrive, rather, it gives them a chance to demonstrate their abilities that they otherwise would not have the chance to demonstrate. . Established guidelines for free teaching would be necessary; for example, it should be given to students who are willing to work for it and who could meet certain GPA or class requirements. Therefore, not all students may benefit from free tuition; aid wouldn't too easily get to the point where it could slow down, and those that do could be easily identified and miss out on free tuition. Finally, in response to the decreasing quality of the learning environment, this free tuition program would require everyone involved to do their part: Community colleges would need to strengthen their programs and make sure graduation rates are in line. expanding, or at least, maintaining. States should invest more in higher education and training, and students.