Free Community College

Improved Essays
Despite the money families could save by sending their children to community college for free, making community college free would cause an even greater debt for the United States and higher taxes for all citizens. Over a 10 year period, President Obama’s plan for free community college is approximated to yield over 60 billion dollars(McClean). In other words, the United States’ accumulating debt would have a significantly larger amount added to it. Since 1776, the United States has been building up a national debt that has recently peaked to over 18 trillion dollars(U.S. Debt). Adding to the country’s extensive debt in a preventable situation is not a wise decision. Individuals could suffer, as well as the country as a whole. Residents in …show more content…
With this in mind, many students who meet and exceed academic requirements can enroll at four-year universities to receive an even higher education on scholarships or even receive substantial scholarships from community colleges as well. Many universities offer programs to less financially equipped students to make sure students graduate. One of these many programs is known as the Federal Work-Study Program. Students immediately become eligible for the Federal Work-Study Program by filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid when applying for college. FWS is offered at more than 3,400 schools across the nations and provides students with the option of working on campus doing various jobs to help pay for their tuition and other fees(Cress). Students who take advantage of this opportunity could potentially pay off their college and have money left over for other personal needs. On the contrary, most community colleges offer many scholarships to keep enrollment of students up. In fact, the average community college extends more than $7,200 per full-time student every year, 3.9% of that money is from scholarships(Community College at a Glance). The money community colleges grant to full time students is nearly enough to cover tuition for one year. Scholarships for community college are more common than it is thought. In fact, students attending community college had 31% of their tuition covered by the Federal Title 4 Aid. Additionally, each student receiving aid from Federal Title 4 receives an average of $3,700 annually(AACC). With these scholarships available, students are more likely to be able to cover the costs of community college independently. While community college can have its expenses, the aid offered through scholarships is significant and can dramatically decrease the financial pressures on

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Community Colleges David Hosansky in his article about the idea of the federal government offering students with free tuition focuses on the impacts the program has on students. The proposal to offer government funded tuition to students that maintain 2.5 grade point may affect other community students who may be forced to drop out of college before they graduate. Hosansky points out that critics have argued that the plan initiated by Obama seems costly to implement and the middle class students may become the main beneficiaries of the program. Community colleges are regarded as institutions that are attended by the poor to help them through their four years in collage. Community colleges are important in enhancing higher education by increasing…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Thats why I agree that focusing community college directed funds towards students living exspenses would help out so much more with maintaining the hardships of juggling a job and school. Another example I would like to point out is the structure of child-care Brooks mentions. I don’t have any kids myself but a lot of my friends and classmates do. Luckily Woodland Community College has a child-care facility and it’s right on the edge of campus.…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Valerie Strauss’s article, “The problem(s) with Obama’s community college plan – and an alternative,” she states that the plan would cost sixty billion dollars over a ten-year period and that the money would be better used to expand existing federal programs, such as Pell Grant (Para 4). The plan was to benefit the students who are in need of financial aid to be able to attain a higher education that is affordable for them. But, at the same time students who are well-off are also able to attend community college free for two years. Pain quotes, “…making tuition free for all students, regardless of their income is a missed opportunity to focus resources on the students who need aid the most” (Para 26). There are other expenses, such as living, food, books, transportation, and possible child care, that students have to worry about as well when it comes to attending…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It starts by introducing the topic followed by a brief background information on free community college discussion. The paper gives a brief description on the reasons why some Americans think community college should be free. Their main reason is that it provides equality and more opportunities for students. It proceeds to issue writer’s opinion as to why community college should not be free with backup from credible references and statistics. Among the reasons explained in this paper are; dropout rates would increase, free community college would be unfair to the poor while the rich would benefit more besides being a burden to the taxpayers.…

    • 1679 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    For the past six months one of the hottest topics in politics and around colleges throughout the U.S is whether community college should be free or not. Although there are many thoughts to this topic this literature review will focus primary on why many people are for free community college and while many are opposed to it. The questions surrounding if community college should be free or not is who is going to pay for it and if everyone attends college is college still an accomplishment. I personally believe that community college should not be free, not because I’m against higher education for everyone but because there is no such thing as free college. If community college was labeled as free are it means is that America would go further…

    • 161 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As it stands today the average cost of attending a community college is $3,347 according to the College Board, while the average aid given to low income students is $5,730 under the pell grant. Currently most community colleges waive the cost for low income students but don’t for higher income students. This raises an issue if community college should be free to students as middle class students don’t receive the financial support given by the government or community colleges. This issue was brought to light in 2015 when president Barack Obama gave his State of the Union Address which sparked a debate regarding community college and costs. In his address, he stated community college should be free for the first two years and “as free and universal in America as highschool is today.”…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Since, students were not overwhelmed with college costs 80% returned the following semester to complete their college education. Usually in all states a requirement is to have 2.5 GPA, Particularly in the state of New York, Patton says “Enroll at least half time, pay $50 for courses, and receive at least $1,000 in Promise aid; create a reimbursement program for tuition expenses paid out-of-pocket not covered by financial aid; recipients must complete at least 25 hours of community service and sign a contract agreeing to live and work full-time in New York for five years after earning their degree.” Thirdly, the article “High-Ranking Colleges and Universities Strengthen Financial Aid” tells the audience about how higher ranking colleges and universities have widely opened the acceptance rates to low income working class individuals as well as African Americans. Some colleges amongst the many have been Harvard university, Columbia University, Brown University, UCLA, etc.…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Most students face economic pressure as they live in a brutal economy. Zinsser says that he knows why students are under that pressure. He explains that at most private colleges, tuition, room and board cost at least $7,000 per year at the time this essay was written. Today,…

    • 1308 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Free tuition and no debt for students attending higher education within the United States seems like a terrific proposal, however, there are several hidden small prints that may result in certain disadvantages for Americans. Many colleges across the country already offer student loans and other scholarships for low-income families in order to provide accessible education. Moreover, if this plan turns into an official policy, expenses for federal and local governments will increase up to $75 billion annually, only in public universities and colleges. As a result of such expenditures, nationwide increases in taxes would be significantly reflected and Wall Street will be the central target. According to Michael Hiltzik, a reporter for Los Angeles Times in the article “How free college tuition would become a giveaway to the rich” he argues that,…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The program generally requires students in several school maintain such as; they have to finish high school with 2.5 GPA above, they have to enroll at least halftime school credit hour, they have to study with program that will transfers to four years’ universities and so on (Stephen Dash, “A Guide to Obama’s Free Community College Plan”). The requirement is not too demanding, and many of students are eligible in this program. America’s College Promise Act is a good way to motivate student to enroll in college because it encourages student going to college to get a higher education after high school. America’s College Promise Act will help a lot of student on their first start in college. Since the necessity of this program is not too high, many of students will able to go to college.…

    • 1494 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the coming months millions of students will log on to their schools website and register for classes. Some go to college because it is expected of them. Some do it because they want a good job, while others go to college because they love knowledge. There are vocational schools, community colleges and four year universities. The one thing they all have in common is; they cost money.…

    • 1017 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Free College Tuition in the US is Achievable and Necessary. Topic: Why College Should be Free in the USA. INTRODUCTION Attention Getter: Growing up, one thing was for certain in my life; I knew my family couldn’t afford to send me to college.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They don’t have to keep their prices low due to other colleges being full as well. The profit of the colleges has come completely at the expense of the students. The average college student spends about $18,000 on tuition and room and board, while only spending $2,100 a year on person expenses.…

    • 1086 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    One with a four-year college degree might make $52,000, while an advanced degree could merit $67,000.” The benefits of higher education are vital to the livelihood of college students entering the workforce. States have tried to help students with the cost of colleges through the use of financial grants, especially merit-based scholarships. There are just not enough funds within these scholarships to make sure that students don’t end up in…

    • 1364 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Should College Be Free? Over the past few years, the cost of higher education has become unbearable for most. The cost for an opportunity to become more educated is quite frightening. On average, public colleges cost $32,762 while private colleges are priced at $42,419 on average (Bridgestock, 2015).…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays