Abstract
The topic of college tuition has been a controversial issue especially in
recent years as the price of higher education continues to rise in the
United States. Many agree that higher education is important for many
students and that the price of obtaining a higher education can be a
costly one especially when the return many not be that big. Despite the
high cost, there are many viewpoints on the solution and the possibility of
making higher education free for students. In the essay, arguments for
and against making college tuition free for students will be discussed.
Additionally, the sources for and against will be compared to show the
differences and similarities of the arguments as well as the strengths and
weaknesses for each side of the argument. It will also discuss whether
free college education is even a possibility in the United States.
and a better income overtime (2015, p. 12). Eskrow also makes this
argument when he states that higher education is a very good
investment, for he believes that it allows individuals to earn more over
there lifetime and to achieve many of the dreams and goals that they set
for themselves (2014, para. 6). Because of the inability of many citizens
to acquire a higher education, the argument for solving income inequality
uses the claim of free higher education as the solution.
The arguments in Pay it Forward and Tuition-Free Higher
Education Must Be Offered integrate within their arguments how
differences in classes of American citizens form the basis of many
problems within the higher education system in the United States. To
emphasize the idea that ability of an individual to obtain a higher
education largely bases on the current wealth of their families, she claims
that the high cost of tuition is bad news for education and income
inequality, for high tuition costs worsens the problem of income
inequality (2015, p. 12). Eskrow claims that the rising costs of higher
education unfairly impacts lower-income groups as they are the ones
that face the challenges of rising tuition costs the most (2014, p. 2). In
contrast to the claims made by these two articles, Bruenig believes that
free higher education does not solve the issue of income inequality.
Despite many of the same discussions of the problems of higher
education and the differences in attendance of the different class levels,
Eksrow considers free higher education as a purposeful decision, while
Bruenig does not believe free higher education serves any function.
Eskrow views free public higher education as a clean and ethical
solution as it would allow for students of all backgrounds to have
brighter futures (2014, para. 42). In comparison, Bruenig believes that
offering free college tuition has not real egalitarian purpose and does
not help to solve the issues of higher education (2015, p. 113). Each of
these authors interprets the reasoning and the usefulness of free higher
education in different ways.
In addition to the differences in the support or rejection of free
college tuition, Eskrow believes that income inequality can be solved with
free access to higher education; however, Bruenig believes that free
college tuition will not lessen this income gap. Eskrow argues education
is in danger of becoming an inherited privilege; consequently, free
higher education could allow students of all backgrounds to obtain a
college degree and earn higher incomes as higher education remains a
powerful tool for social mobility (2015, p. 113). Opposing this viewpoint,
Bruenig perceives free higher education as a way to exacerbate the
problem of income inequality as it would fill the pockets of richer
students and their families rather than helping families who actually
need the money (2015, p. 113). Each of the authors of the articles make
stronger arguments for his case for or against free education, but they
each have their strengths and weakness in their reasoning.
offering free college tuition could guarantee success for students in their
futures. After careful consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of
the articles, it allows an individual to develop his or her own opinion on
the issue and to decide the best possible solution to the problem of
income inequality.
Through the in depth investigation for this essay, the importance of
the issue of the high cost of college tuition has been clearly emphasized
as I understand the strong impact on future generations of the United
States. Additionally, the issue acts as an important discussion in politics
especially in the upcoming political debate as the new generation
emphasizes equality in all areas of life for all individuals. In order to form
a well-developed opinion on the issue, I take careful consideration of all
points of each argument. Many of the research for this topic includes
arguments for free higher education; however, my viewpoint on free
higher education has not changed. I would love if college could be free,
but I do not believe it is an unachievable goal as we have so many other
costs to cover in the United States and not enough money to cover all the
expenses. I feel there should be changes in the cost of tuition and other
reforms, but I do not believe it should be offered completely free. Despite
my disbelief in the possibility of free higher education for all students, I
feel it is vital to find other solutions and reforms to change the problem of
income inequality and to allow all people to have the opportunity for a
successful future.
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References
Bruenig, M. (2015). The Case Against Free College. Dissent, 112-114.
Eskrow, R. (2014). Tuition-Free Higher Education Must Be Offered.
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Morris, C. (2015). Pay It Forward. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 1213.