Today, a college education is a necessity, yet for thousands of people it is unattainable. Most high paying jobs require that a candidate has earned a college degree, something many young adults struggle to obtain. This is a growing problem, but it is one that has a solution, and making college free can benefit this country and its people.

The high cost of a college education has proven to be an increasing issue for young students. Since 1978, there has been a dramatic increase in how much it costs to attend a four-year school, an increase of 1,122 percent (Ellison). This staggering statistic puts into perspective just how difficult it can be for some students to further their education. It does not come as a surprise that low income families …show more content…
citizens the benefit of a free college education. There are ways to pay for this plan. Many might disagree, saying, 'free college' cannot actually be free, the money needs to come from somewhere. Who is going to pay for it? (Throndsen) By slightly raising taxes on citizens, who would be benefiting from free education, much of the cost of tuition would be handled. The jobs becoming more achievable would also circulate more money, earning the government more tax revenue ("Should College be Free"). This money could contribute greatly in paying for tuition costs. The U.S. could cover the remaining tuition by lowering the military's budget from its absurdly large number. Currently, more than $601 billion is being spent on the military in the United States, that amount is more than the next seven highest spending countries combined (Throndsen). As Throndsen suggests in his article, "if the government and taxpayers were to pay for public universities and colleges, there would be more inspection into where tuition money is going." Less money would be spent on costly items that are not necessary. The government, of course, would have high expectations of all students who plan to attend college. If students want the government to pay for tuition, it could be mandatory for them to maintain a certain GPA to continue receiving this privilege. They would also be expected to graduate within four years to abstain from further spending. These are …show more content…
Students from other countries that have tuition free college have virtually no student debt; "most of their loans come from living expenses and books"(Andersen). If college graduates no longer had to pay off their student loans after graduating, they would be able to contribute more money into the economy. By funding higher education with a federal program, states would be relieved from funding the institutions themselves, which would allow more money flexibility for other projects (Samuels). By virtually erasing student debt, the government would be allowing students to become more productive, creating more money to be spent, stimulating the economy. Economics should not be the only factor considered for providing a free higher education. An increase in the number of students able to attend college creates a more well-educated work force, leading to more "innovation in all areas of society" (Andersen). Free college has proven to raise the number of people who earn a college degree right here in the United States. Since 2006, Michigan has had in effect the Kalamazoo Promise, which is a program which covers 100 percent of a student's tuition and fees if they graduate from college. From the start of the program up until the year 2013, the percentage of graduates from that area who earned a college degree rose from 36 percent to 46 percent ("Should College be Free"). A more