Going Broke By Degree: Why College Cost So Much

Colleges have gotten away with charging more and more for their tuition rates, but the question is, are they justified? The simple answer is no. The primary reason for increasing tuition rates is debated by many. According to Sandy Baum, a professor in Education Administration at George Washington University, in her contribution to an NPR broadcast, it is due to decreasing state help meaning that students are paying more and more of the tuition on their own. John Merline, a writer for Investors Business Daily, suggests rising grant aid is allowing school administrators to increase their spending and raise tuition costs without seeing a reduction in their enrollment rates. In his novel Going Broke By Degree: Why College Costs So Much, Richard …show more content…
Lower tuition would increase the access that society has to higher education. With the current job market, a degree is more than likely a requirement rather than a suggestion. The current costs are making college accessible only to the rich and those who can manage to win enough scholarships to cover the costs. Everyone should be able to attend college if they have the desire and those who do not wish to further their education should not be punished for it. It was not that long ago that having a degree was something only a select few could boast and those who did not hold one were still able to make a living and often do very well for themselves. Increasing the level access and quality of education can only improve the country’s standings in the global market. The better educated the population is now, the more that level of education will flow through to future generations. An article published in Culture Wars in America entitled “College Tuition and Student Debt” explains how a college degree can offer higher paying jobs and more consistent employment to the recipient. Making college accessible to those who want to attend can only stand to benefit