For a number of years now high school students are being
pushed towards attending college immediately after graduating from high
school.The rates of enrollment have
been steadily increasing, almost to a point that many colleges are unable to
keep up with the rising demands.As the
number of students increase, the government subsidies continue to
decrease.In addition, the colleges are
required to hire more staff and find ways to provide more classrooms to handle
the extra load, yet with less financial assistance.In return, they are raising tuition rates to
help keep up with the basic functions of running a college. The increases in
tuition are not only making it hard for students to attend, but is causing many
of them to incur large amounts of debt.
Throughout
this document the word college will be used to refer to both public and private
universities and community colleges, unless otherwise specified.Tuition will not only refer to the basic cost
of enrolling, but will also be used to cover the extra costs of books and fees
that are necessary for college attendance.Student will refer to anyone that is currently enrolled in higher
education.Financial aid is any form of
government assistance including grants or loans, and any scholarships that
students receive. Lastly, student debt is any form of debt - whether it is
student loans, personal loans, or credit card debt - that a student is
accumulating to pay their way through college.
To
gain a better perspective of the number of students enrolled and the diplomas
being distributed in the state of Utah, I took a look at the Utah Higher
Education website (figure 1).Last year
in the state of Utah there were 106,863 students enrolled in college (8).Of those students, there were 41,611 degrees
and awards given (1).While the number
of awards distributed seems large, it was down .25 percent from the previous
year.This is the only time there is a
decrease instead of an increase over the past five years documented (see
figures 2 & 3).Women earned 51 percent
of the degrees while men earned the other 49 percent (figure 4).The number of degrees earned by minorities (figure
5) increased to 12.7 percent.The
largest percentage of degrees distributed were in the field of business with
the health professions taking second.These numbers show that approximately 39 percent of the students
attending last year were able to receive some form of certificate or degree,
assuming that nobody was awarded more than one certificate.
President
Obama wants America to have the largest percentage of college graduates in the
world (Billitteri 981).But, as tuition
rates continue to rise, is college still a good choice for everyone?There have been numerous studies regarding
the increasing rates of tuition and its effect on the students and their
families. This article will take a look at the possible causes for the rising
rates of tuition.I will also look at
the effects that the cost has had on students and their families.In the end, I will discuss whether college is
really the right choice for every American adult after taking into
consideration the amount of time, money, and effort that goes into earning a
college degree.
Tuition
Rates
Tuition
rates and enrollment are both increasing, while the government assistance provided
is decreasing.To keep up with the
growing demand of enrollments, many schools are raising tuition rates.In order to attract the best students,
schools are spending money on having nice classrooms, high-speed internet,
valued professors, and top athletic programs.Andrew Gillen, the research director for the Center on College
Affordability and Productivity, states that, “any additional resources obtained
by a school will be spent at least partly on services and amenities aimed at
enhancing the school’s reputation and competing for the best students.This might mean shelling out big money to
attract famous professors or to build well-equipped gymnasiums for students’
use” (Gillen qtd in Clemmitt 881).Megan
Mcardle believes that it is necessary for schools to compete for the best
students in the market.She replies
that, “eighteen-year-olds demand amenities—high-speed internet,
well-upholstered classrooms, world-class fitness facilities- and in order to stay
competitive, college administrators happily provide them.They raise the tuition for which the
18-year-olds are obediently borrowing the money” (3).To better enhance their learning experience,
students should feel comfortable and happy while they are at school.I know that many students enjoy the use of
the gymnasium and work-out facilities.They like to attend the sporting events and rooting for their favorite
teams.For some, college would not be as
enjoyable without the athletic events, clubs, parties, and other social
events.While gaining an education is
important, the students also need to enjoy their experience. They need to
socialize and learn to work with others.
In addition, keeping up with the rapid changes in
technology can be very difficult for schools, yet it’s crucial in today’s
world.Technology is the road to the
future and students need to know how to incorporate it into their everyday
lives.Clemmitt points out that,
“colleges must constantly upgrade expensive technology to prepare students
adequately for tomorrow’s workplaces” (885).Technology is very expensive and is constantly changing.Once the school has their system updated, it
is time for another upgrade.However,
technology has allowed for more modern and innovative methods of teaching.Students can follow along with a Power Point
presentation allowing them to focus less on taking notes and more on what is
being discussed.The libraries also
provide students with access to computers, so they can keep up with their
homework.Despite the costs, technology
is extremely important in today’s schools.
Further, finding good college professors cost more money,
and schools must acquire them to attract top students and provide them with a
quality education.Unlike other goods in
the economy, professors can’t be replaced by machines (Clemmitt 881).With the internet, online education has
become a new trend providing students with the ability to study from home and
earn a college degree with flexible hours.Teachers are not spending their time lecturing in a classroom, but
instead, they are teaching through textbook readings, online discussions,
computerized quizzes, and assignments.Hacker and Dreifus agree that a classroom with a good professor is the
optimal way to learn, however they also believe that “a gripping performance on
a screen may be preferable to a live teacher of doubtful competence.Unlike a textbook, software can pose
interactive questions, review answers, and tell students to try again, offering
hints on where they may have gone wrong” (3). Online teaching does not have the same
benefits of interacting personally with a professor.However, it does make a college education
more accessible to students that need a flexible schedule or that don’t live
near a campus.It also allows schools to
offer more classes with the limited classroom space.
At the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, an
average undergraduate student would spend between $7,876 and $25,208 a year on
tuition and fees only, depending on whether they were a resident or
non-resident student.If you are looking
at four years at the University of Utah, then you would be looking at a cost
between $31,504 and $100,832 if you are not receiving any scholarships or
grants through financial aid (figure 6).This is an example of just one school, but you can quickly see how fast
the debt adds up.For part-time students
the cost is even higher.Because they
are taking fewer classes, part-time students don’t receive the discounted rate for
taking more credits.I am a part-time
student, and my tuition and books are on average $3,000 for only two
classes.This makes it very expensive
and hard for part-time students to continue their education.However, the University of Utah is claiming
to be 72nd in the nation for earning a return on your college
education whether you paid in-state or out of state tuition rates (University
of Utah webpage).
As a comparison, I took a look at the tuition rates at
Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), the local community college in Salt Lake
City, UT.For fifteen credit hours, you
would be paying $1,734 for resident and $5,505 for a non-resident.This would average $3,468 to $11,010 per year,
not attending during the summer semester.For a two year degree, if you attended full-time with the summer
semester off, your total cost would be between $6,936 and $22,020 (figure 7).By attending a local community college for
your first two years, you could possibly save between $12,284 and $39,406
depending on your residency status.Attending a community college can make an education more accessible and
affordable.You do not have to attend a
fancy school to get a college education.
Student
Debt
Rising
tuition rates are having a large effect on American society. The students and their families are accruing
large amounts of debt, “between one-half and two-thirds of undergrads now come
out of school with debt” (McArdle 3).In
2008, an average student graduated with $15,123 in student debt (Lewin 2009 qtd
by Dwyer, McCloud, and Hodson 1135).Debt, not just student debt, can have a lifetime effect on many
adults.And, college is forcing people
to start out their adult lives with sometimes substantial amounts of debt.
Dwyer,
McCloud, and Hodson discuss some of the negative effects that large amounts of
debt can have.First of all, debt causes
extra stress, which can lead to a higher likelihood of divorce, unemployment,
and illness (Dwyer, McCloud, & Hodson 1133).Secondly, large amounts of debt can hurt your
credit.They believe that this will
reduce the likelihood of students pursuing advanced degrees.It may also delay them from forming families
or owning their own home (Dwyer, McCloud, & Hodson 1150).This can have lasting effects on society as a
whole as the nation accrues even more debt.These negative consequences may be even harder on students that are
already economically disadvantaged (Dwyer, McCloud, and Hodson 1151).
Student
loans are easy to access, maybe too easy.Credit has allowed a larger percentage of the population to attend
college, and without it, college would not be a possibility for many
adults.Dwyer, McCloud, and Hodson
consider debt a “double-edged sword, representing both a resource and a liability”
(1136).Without debt, they wouldn’t be
able to gain an education.But, if they
are not careful in utilizing their sources, repayment of that debt may be
difficult.In the past, student loans
were supported by the government.But,
in the 1990s, private lenders became involved.This allowed students easier access to loans, but it was also comprised
of more stringent payment plans (Dwyer, McCloud, & Hodson 1135).The amount of student debt quickly increased
across America.The long-term goal in
America has been for everyone to gain a college education, yet college debt is
slowing down that progression (Clemmitt 883).
As student debt begins to increase in size, many students
started working more hours, which leaves them less time to focus on their
education.For some students, the fear
of being in debt is too much, and is causing many students to dropout before
finishing or they choose to not enroll at all.According to Dwyer, McCloud, and Hodson, “those with high levels of
educational loan debt who drop out are 1.31 times more likely than high debtors
who graduate to be enrolled part time, 1.75 times more likely to work more than
20 hours per week, and 1.99 times more likely to be parents” (1148).They also report that 37.1 percent of
students that dropped out of college gave finances or work as their main
reasons for not finishing (1148).As the
debt accumulates, it is harder for students to continue their education, or
they attend less and it takes too long to graduate, thus decreasing the likelihood
of graduating.Students that are
dropping out of college without a degree find that their job opportunities
decrease and it is harder for them to pay back their loans.The finance website Smart Money reported
“nearly 10 percent of federal student-loan borrowers defaulted during the two
years ending Sept. 30, 2010” (Clemmitt 881).This means that one in every ten students is struggling to pay back
their loans.
I personally have
seen the impact of student debt on my college education.I started attending Salt Lake Community
College (SLCC) at the age of twenty-two. I was living on my own, working full
time while attending school part-time.When I turned twenty-four, I was hopeful of receiving financial aid
without having to claim my parent’s income.But, at that time, I was making $10.50 an hour, which was too much for
any assistance besides loans.Keeping up
with working while going to school became too much and too expensive, so I
dropped out.A few years later I
realized that if I was going to achieve a good career that I needed to have a
degree.I returned to SLCC. However, by
this time, the graduation requirements had changed.I now needed several new classes, and many of
the classes that I had already taken were no longer required.I was determined to graduate this time.But, the financial struggles continued, and I
had to take another year off to pay down bills.This made the graduation process was very long and it was extremely
difficult to continue.However, I do
not regret earning my associates degree, and I know that it has helped me in
the job that I currently have.
Cons
of Earning a College Education
In
a speech given by President Obama, he says that “a good education is no longer
just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite” (Obama qtd by Billitteri
996).For many students, high school
does not adequately prepare them for college.If they enter college before they are ready, it may not be very
beneficial.In a study performed by
Rockefeller Philanthropy advisors, they claimed that 43 percent of students in
a two year college have or are enrolled in remedial courses.And of those students 80 percent of them had
a grade point average of at least a 3.0 (Billitteri 990).Is high school adequately preparing our
youth for college?
Personally,
I know that when I graduated high school, I was not ready for college.I was smart enough, but I no longer wanted to
spend my time in a classroom or doing homework.Had I attended college right out of high school, I don’t believe that I
would have done very well.However, by
waiting until I was older to enroll in college, I had forgotten some of the
basics that I had learned over the years.When I started college, I realized that I had never actually read a
textbook in my life. High school did not prepare me for college.Even being older and more mature, college was
a big adjustment for me.If I wanted
good grades, I had to spend more time reading and studying than I was used to.
In
addition, there are some jobs that don’t require a college degree.Colleges attract students by telling them how
valuable their degree will be, and that it is worth the costs they will be
incurring (McArdle 2).When in reality,
for some, there is no value in receiving a college education.Some degrees do not pay enough to pay for
themselves, and the graduates “end up taking a job for which college education
is not really a prerequisite” (Vedder qtd in Clemmitt 881). McArdle claims that
“more than half of all recent graduates are unemployed or in jobs that do not
require a degree” (2).With more college
graduates, the market is becoming flooded in areas where there may not be
enough jobs available.
“Between 1992 and 2008, the number of
bachelor’s degrees awarded rose almost 50 percent, from around 1.1 million to
more than 1.6 million.According to
Vedder, 60 percent of those additional students ended up in jobs that have not
historically required a degree—waitress, electrician, secretary, mail carrier”
(McArdle 5).
Should students be
warned before starting college of the field they are going into?Or is it their job as a student to research
the availability of jobs and the average starting pay rates for their field of
study?Some jobs may not be worth the
time and money spent on college.Also,
some students may already have the necessary skills needed for their career
without attending a college or vocational school.
McArdle agrees that a college education doesn’t
necessarily improve someone.She states
that, “a third of students gain no measurable skills during their four years of
college” (4).Employers should be
looking at more than just degrees when searching for prospective
employees.They also need to take a look
at an individual’s credentials and skills, and not just their education.A degree is just a piece of paper stating
that they finished school. It does not necessarily mean they are smarter or
more qualified than anyone else.However, there are many jobs that won’t consider hiring you without it.
With the increases in tuition, students should be gaining a higher return and a
better education for their money.
Pros
of Earning a College Degree
The main benefit of earning a college degree is the
possibility of gaining a better job.According to Clemmitt, the wage premium for having at least some college
education or a degree over just a high school education is between $500,000 and
$1 million over a lifetime (882).However, the wage premium may also be dependent on abilities, goals, and
desires of the individual more than just the college degree.Some employees are more persistent and
motivated than others.The wage premium
may be higher just because of their personality.
Statistics have shown that on average, an individual with
a college degree earns as much as 80 percent more than those with only a
high-school diploma.And those in an
elite school are shown to be even higher (McArdle 3).Clemmitt’s claim is that, “the benefit of a
four year degree is equivalent to an investment that returns 15.2 percent per
year” (882).In addition, a college
education can also affect unemployment rates.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in October 2014,
unemployment for the labor force with less than a high school diploma was 7.9
percent, a high school graduate was 5.7 percent, someone with some college or
an associate degree was 4.8 percent, and a person with a bachelor’s degree or
higher was 3.1 percent.These statistics
show that your odds of attaining a job are a lot higher by obtaining a degree
or attending at least some college.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, I think attending college depends on a person’s desires and
ambitions in life.College is not the
right choice for every individual, and not everyone will benefit the same from
attending college.Some students are not
properly prepared or ready for college.
“James
Heckman, the Nobel Prize—winning economist, has examined how the returns on
education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of
ability.“Even with these high prices
you’re still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and
motivated,” he says.On the other hand,
“if you’re not college ready, then the answer is no, it’s not worth it”
(McArdle 3).”
College should be a
personal decision that shouldn’t be forced or expected.Studies have shown that a college education
can be beneficial, and for the majority, they will earn a higher income.However, studies have also shown that many
graduates do not work in careers that require their college education or in the
field that they studied.
By taking a look at the pros and cons of earning a
college degree, you can make a better decision if the choice is right for
you.Is the cost worth the benefit?This will probably vary between various
fields.Many jobs currently require an
individual to have a degree despite the fact that they already have the
necessary skills without the degree.However, studies have shown that individuals with a college degree
generally earn more money and have less chance of being unemployed.
I believe that college has helped me to pursue my goals
and dreams.But, I personally know many
people that have a college degree and are not working in their field of
study.I think that if you know what you
want, and you are motivated to get there, then college can be a good
resource.But, you need to be wise about
it so that you are not accruing unnecessary debt that you won’t be able to
repay after graduation.Students should
earn worthwhile degrees and avoid unnecessary classes that cost money with
little to no benefits.
I
used to tell everyone that they should go to college.But, after doing this research, it has made
me rethink about whether college is really a good choice for everyone.I know a lot of individuals with degrees that
work in jobs that do not require a college education.However, I still believe that their education
has benefited them in some way.An
education is not something that anyone can take away from you.But, I do worry about the debt that students
are incurring to attend college and then they are unable to gain a reputable
job that will allow them to pay down their debt. The debt that I have incurred
scares me and I currently have a good job that allows me to pay it down.But, what about students that don’t have
that, or they don’t finish to find a good job?
After
completing this research, I believe that students and their parents need to
make sure that they are aware of all the facts before they start school.They need to make sure that they are ensuing
a worthwhile degree, and if not, that they have the means to pay for their
schooling.They need to be aware of the
overall costs of their education, and they need to be ready to work hard for
their degree. There are many options out
there to gain an education.The more
educated you are on researching your options, the better decisions that can be
made.You may be able to save money
attending a community college, or taking classes online.Everyone is different on what is best for
them.I believe that college is not a necessity, but
that it is a privilege that many take for granted.