Written By; Gary Wonning
A thought just occurred to me, if everyone had to pay their own way in college, what would it cost?
In today’s world, there are many opportunities to receive financial assistance to attend college, through scholarships, financial aid, grants, etc. These are all beneficial to those that qualify, enabling many to go to college and receive a degree in higher education.
There is a call from many to give a free college education to everyone, but is this the proper path to follow?
It sounds like a great idea at first thought.
But when one actually thinks about it, there are many flaws to this plan.
Many people don’t have the desire or need to attend college, and many honestly don’t have the mental capabilities to attend college, many need to pursue careers such as welding, electricians, plumbing and other careers that don’t require a college education, only trade school. Today, there are extreme shortages of people engaging in this type of profession, professions that often pay more than some careers that require a college degree.
Is it fair to make those who don’t attend college pay for those that do? Many would still have to pay their way to attend a trade school, should we require then them to also pay for those who attend Harvard through their tax dollars? Should someone who attends a state school also be required to pay for someone who attends Harvard?
If you chose not to attend college, should you have to pay for someone who does?
The students who attend college today through scholarships, grants, etc are still being subsidized by the taxpayer, who eventually pays their tuition through higher taxes. Is that fair?
How many come to this country on student visas, get student loans or a free education and never leave?
How much would college cost if no one got a free ride, what if all scholarships, grants etc were withdrawn, what if athletes had to pay their own way, what if student loans actually had to be repaid?
Then, what would a college education actually cost?
Costs are determined by supply and demand, the more free education is provided, the more the cost goes up because of a lack of supply and increased demand, thus those who have to pay, pay more.
The cost of all the students who receive a free or subsidized education is factored into the cost to those who pay their own way, as a result, the ones who work hard and pay their own way are subsidizing everyone else.
When I graduated from high school, the cost to attend a state college was about two thousand dollars, I admit that was many years ago when the cost of living was much lower, but at that time there were very few ways to receive a free education.
Life was a lot slower and simpler in the fifties and sixties.
If all the free rides were eliminated, and people actually paid back their student loans, would the cost be much higher than the two thousand dollars it cost many years ago, and even if the total cost was a little higher, wouldn’t it be better for everyone to pay their own way than having part of the population subsidize those who attend college? The way I see it if one goes to college and receives an education where he possibly can make more money than someone else, why should the person who makes less money pay for the education of someone who makes more?
It appears to me this is just another example of the poor subsidizing the wealthy. Aren’t the very people who believe they are looking out for the poor and disadvantaged, actually hurting the ones they are trying to help?
Aren’t the very people who believe they are looking out for the poor and disadvantaged, actually hurting the ones they are trying to help?
The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.
His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.
He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.
He has published several books about his adventures.
For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.
Your comments are welcome
Thinking Between the Lines 