The Cost Of College
This has tripled over the past three decades at most U.S. universities.
What is tuition?
Free tuition could increase enrollment in these high-demand fields like STEM and healthcare.
What are workforce shortage fields?
Making public college free would cost this amount annually.
What is $80 billion?
Some fear this type of workforce—like plumbing and HVAC—could be harmed if everyone pursues college.
What are blue-collar jobs?
One compromise is making this type of college free nationwide.
What is community college?
Total U.S. student loan debt has surpassed this amount.
What is $1.7 trillion?
A Georgetown study shows that people with a bachelor’s degree earn this percentage more than high school graduates.
What is 84%?
Many opponents fear free college would raise these, affecting all Americans.
What are taxes?
Critics argue free college could increase this in the job market, making hiring more competitive.
What is oversaturation or job competition?
A sliding scale for tuition bases cost on this factor.
What is family income?
Rising college costs often force students to delay these important life steps, such as buying homes or starting families.
What are major life milestones or commitments?
Free public college could reduce reliance on these burdensome financial products.
What are student loans?
Critics say a bachelor’s degree may become less valuable, similar to this minimum credential.
What is a high school diploma?
The essay says ignoring blue-collar fields could strain this part of the country.
What is the economy?
Trade schools would also be free under this compromise idea to support blue-collar jobs.
What is the sliding-scale approach?
These two groups of students are hit hardest by rising college costs.
Who are low-income students and first-generation students?
Giving more people a chance to earn degrees would improve this national measure of democracy and engagement.
What is civic participation?
According to a Pew survey, 58% of these people say free tuition would be unfair.
Who are students who already paid their loans?
Free college could push more students away from trades, harming these certification programs.
What are trade schools or skilled trades programs?
Service-based degrees like nursing or teaching could require this in exchange for free tuition.
What is a job commitment or service obligation?
This nationwide barrier represents how high tuition limits access to the “American Dream.”
What is financial strain or economic inequality?
The essay argues free college is not a burden but this type of benefit for the country’s future.
What is an investment?
A CBO report revealed during COVID-19 that federal revenues fell by this percentage, causing cuts to higher ed.
What is 10%?
Making a bachelor’s degree the new “minimum requirement” for jobs is an example of this type of credential inflation.
What is degree inflation?
Combining all compromise strategies would help affordability while protecting these two major groups from harm.
Who are taxpayers and low-income students?