college tuition argumentative essay

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Is The Cost Of College Too High Argumentative Essay Example

College is a time of great change and growth for students. However, the cost of college can make it difficult to find success. The costs for tuition, room, and board, and other expenses (books, supplies) are skyrocketing and making it difficult for many students to afford higher education. This sample discusses some reasons why the cost of college may be too high as well as how we might lower those costs without sacrificing quality or accessibility.

Argumentative Essay Example on Is The Cost Of College Too High

Thesis Statement About College Tuition Essay The cost of college is too high and we must find ways to lower the cost of college without sacrificing quality or accessibility. Free College Tuition Argumentative Essay Introduction The college has never been more expensive than it is today. Tuition, room, and board, textbooks, transportation, supplies all add up in an increasing spiral that makes it difficult for most students to afford higher education (and forces many into unfulfilling careers just because they cannot afford higher education). Colleges are forced to raise their tuition in order to compensate for the loss of state support and increased costs associated with running a modern university. However, this creates a greater strain on students who are already scrambling to pay off loans after graduation. Some scholars say college will soon be unaffordable for everyone and that we must find ways to lower the cost of college without sacrificing quality or accessibility. Get Non-Plagiarized Custom Essay on High Cost Of College in USA Order Now Main Body – Is Education Overpriced Persuasive Essay We know that higher education is a public good and contributes to society in many important ways, especially economically. Many students rely upon loans, grants, and scholarships from their colleges to fund their education. However, universities are having an increasingly difficult time remaining financially afloat because of decreased state support combined with increasing costs associated with running a modern university (like paying faculty more money for increased teaching loads). In response, they raise tuition at rates far beyond the rate of inflation in order to make up for lost funding and keep pace with other institutions across the country/world. This phenomenon results in greater strain on already overstretched students who can barely pay for college as is, let alone with the ever-increasing costs. Students are struggling to find good-paying jobs upon graduation and move into adulthood because they are saddled with mountains of student loan debt, further squeezing them economically. Some scholars say that some universities will soon be unaffordable for all but the wealthiest students. Many schools already accept more than half their undergraduate population using financial aid (including loans). The cost of tuition at some institutions is disproportionately high compared to other factors like quality or career preparation; it’s possible that many of these schools prioritize generating revenue over providing an education (resulting in poor quality graduates). As a result, we’ll see increasingly fewer opportunities available to qualified applicants because only students who can afford to pay for college have opportunities. Some scholars say that we must find ways to lower the cost of college without sacrificing quality or accessibility. Many people believe that modern technology could help us achieve this goal by reducing costs associated with running a university, like building expenses or labor costs. The internet allows us greater access to information, courses, etc which would reduce the need for physical presence at an institution to receive an education there (which improves access because it reduces tuition). Additionally, online classes are less expensive than traditional semesters because they don’t require faculty members or dorm rooms. However, others worry about low-quality degrees and lack of face-to-face interactions with instructors/professors, especially in technical areas like law, medicine, and engineering. Additionally, some people fear the extent to which online learning could replace more expensive on-campus learning and how it would affect traditional universities. It’s difficult to predict exactly how online learning will transform higher education because so much depends on the types of courses offered by colleges, who takes them, students’ comfort level with MOOCs/online learning, etc. One thing we know for sure though: there needs to be a fundamental change if we want to see anything other than skyrocketing tuition/debt. It’s unclear whether MOOCs will lead to the widespread elimination of brick-and-mortar universities; some people think they’ll exist alongside online learning while others believe that traditional colleges are destined to disappear in the long term. If you ask me, I’m hopeful that technology can help us lower costs without sacrificing quality or student access—especially since it could be a solution for graduates struggling with mountains of student loan debt. Buy Customized Essay on High Cost Of College At Cheapest Price Order Now Conclusion For Cost Of Higher Education Essay Technology might not be the silver bullet that makes college more affordable, but it’s probably our best chance at keeping higher education within reach of all students. I’m hopeful about modern technology’s role in transforming higher education because it could help streamline costs without decreasing quality or access for qualified applicants. I suspect that MOOCs/online learning will continue to transform traditional universities if they aren’t able to adapt quickly enough. Whatever happens, I hope we can lower costs while maintaining high quality and access for everyone who wants/needs a college degree. The Internet has made many things possible, especially at institutions of higher learning—including greater ease in finding information, connecting with peers, etc. However, one thing still eludes us: affordable education. The cost of college tuition has risen to the point that many students graduate with more debt than ever before—and it’s not always worth it for them! Hire USA Experts for High Cost Of College Essay Order Now

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If you have been assigned the argumentative essay writing assignments in college and university then a sample essay is the cost of college is too high is written here by best helpers. You can easily trace the tricks to complete an argumentative essay on the given topic from this sample. Also, this example works best for those who need assistance in their college essay writing work with ideas on the topic to clear the concepts. Argumentative Essay Writing Guide for college students is given through the above example to graduates. So do not find any inhibition for asking online essay writing services from the Students Assignment Help anytime. Even the best-level essays are written by diligent helpers and essayists through Essay Proofreading Help to the students.

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Rising Cost Of College Tuition In US Argumentative Essay Sample

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Government , United States , Literature , Taxes , Education , Politics , Banking , Students

Words: 2000

Published: 12/06/2019

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Introduction

Every segment of the American economy is under pressure and college education has not been left behind. The cost of college education has risen sharply in the recent past and a big percentage of American College students risk being left out of college education if the cost rises further. The increase in costs has come forth in spite of the excruciating cost-cutting done by colleges on every activity in the institutions. The increase in tuition fee actually outperformed the overall inflation rate.

The increase in cost of college education in US could eventually put college education out of reach for most Americans (National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education Report, 2011). This problem could also affect the global competitiveness of the United States. According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education Report issued in December 2008, :College tuition and fees adjusted for inflation rose 439% from 1982 to 2007.” This figure was higher than the corresponding increased in medical care, housing and food. During the same period, the median family income rose by 147%. This problem is driving a large number of college students away from students as the costs are increasingly becoming unbearable. The government therefore needs to move with speed in order to rectify this problem before it gets out of hand.

The cost of college education for a year rose by 6% in 2006, surpassing wages, inflation and finacial aid. The cost of obtaining a degree is actually rising even faster since many students are taking longer to graduate. Students who are supposed to be taking 4 years, are taking an average of six years to complete their studies. They are therefore forced to pay for tuition fees for six years instead of the four years that they were supposed to take. If the prices continue rising at the current rate, students who do not receive any grant will have to pay about $115,000 to reach graduation day. University officials are saying that they are raising the sticker prices so as to counterbalance the eductions in the subsidies that the government provide for higher education. the grants that most of the universities are receiving to date is the same to the amount that they used to receive about five years ago. Therefore in order for the institutions to balance the increase in salaries, wages, cost of energy and other operating costs, they have to increase the cost of tuition fees so that they can bridge the gap. The costs of running the universities are also increasig faster than even the consumer price index.

Many colleges are also experiencing pressure from the parents and the students to carry out upgrading process for most of their systems and facilities. Colleges that do not improve on their facilities are left out of business. Some students prefer attending colleges that offer better services even at a higher cost. Therefore some colleges are forced to improve on their facilities but this also comes with a corresponding increase in the amount of fees being offered for the facilities since this is the main source of funding for the institutions.

Posible Solutions to the Problem of Rising Cost of College Education

With the rising cost of tuition fees, students are increasingly realizing that grants and loans are not always sufficient for covering all the costs involved in the provision of college education. The problem that is worrying most students is that as the cost of tuition increases, the federal grants are being decreased. This has forced many students who cannot take up additional grants to take up more loans or find other sources of funding their education or drop out of college. One of the solutions that can help in solving this problem is students taking up two year courses. Most colleges that offer two-year courses do not have dorm facilities. This eventually puts the cost of getting degrees from such colleges relatively lower as compared to other colleges with a four-year program where students also stay in campus. The government should encourage the establishment of two year colleges like Georgia Perimeter College and Atlanta Metropolitan College which have a relatively lower cost.

Easing students’ loan interest rates can also help in reducing the cost of education. The law makers should also think of slowing down the relentless rise in the cost of college education. Most colleges increase their fees at will and this has contributed towards the sharp increase in the cost of college education. If the law makers can vote to stop the colleges from random increment in the cost of college education, then the cost of college education will definitely go down.

Provision of federal aid can also help in reducing the cost of education. However, if the aid is provided but there are no strict measures to keep this in check, the colleges are likely to increase their costs even further. Therefore, the aid should be provided with an accompanying condition aimed at controlling the cost charged by the colleges on the students.

The state should improve on their support for the colleges as inflation increases. Since the cost of running the colleges has greatly increased and the rate of inflation also increased sharply, the colleges require more funds to run. The government should improve on the amount of resources that they set for the colleges so that they can be able to hit a balance. This will prevent the colleges from passing the extra costs to the students.

Annotated bibliography

1. Sandra Block, Rising costs make climb to higher education steeper. USA TODAY December 2007

This article examines the rising cost of education, the causes and the remedies that can be taken in order to caution the public against the ever rising cost of college education. According to the author, the amount of federal aid has declined thus forcing more students to borrow. She states that an increase in the amount of federal aid can make the colleges increase their fees even further. However, in order to control the problem of the escalating cost of college education, she proposes that the government should increase their funding to the colleges so that it can help them cope up with the increasing rate of inflation. With this the costs will not be passed to the students thus making the cost of college education to remain constant or even reduce further.

Sandra Block is a personal finance columnist with USA today who contributes every Tuesday on the column. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in US financial matters. She has also done a thorough analysis on the effects of inflation to the American economy and brings with her a wealth of information with her contributions.

2. Cheyanne Hunter, Solutions to the rising cost of college tuition Atlanta Continuing Education Examiner, April 29, 2011

This article analyses the factors behind the increasing cost of college education. The author takes us through a thorough analysis of the situation and how it started. She also manages to sufficiently demonstrate the imbalance that exists between the rise in the cost of college education and the rise in the amount of income different families get. According to the author, the cost of college education has risen by over 35% in the past five years. The government has not done much in order to protect the students and their parents from the ever rising cost of education without any corresponding relief from the government. She proposes that students can help get a solution through attending colleges that do not offer dorm facilities and seeking accommodation elsewhere. This is mostly common with two year degree program colleges. She also proposes that the government should try to increase their funding to the colleges so that the colleges can run those institutions effectively without asking the students to pay more.

The author graduated from Georgia State University with a major in Sociology. She has dedicated her time to writing informative and helpful topics. She has done a series of research dealing with the welfare of individuals.

3. Fred Lucas. Analysts: Obama Student Loan Policies Ignore the Real Problem – College Costs October 25, 2011

This article examines the improvements and the measures that have been taken by the US president in order to caution the public against the escalating costs of college education. According to the author, the policies put forth by the US president are not addressing the real problem but instead ignoring the real problem. He states that the actions that have been taken by the administration like rolling out new student loan relief has not targeted the main problem. He proposes that in order for the public to help solve the situation and eventually reduce the stress that they undergo in the process of paying for college education, they can put greater focus on online courses thus reducing the overall cost of obtaining college degrees. This can be done by encouraging the state Universities to put more contents online and eventually reducing the burden.

4. David Leto, Florida colleges are going to cost more, Fort Lauderdale Personal Finance Examiner

This article takes a case study on Florida and outlines the reasons behind Florida colleges costing more than other states in the US. The universities assert that the increment is needed so as to cover the budget cuts so that the colleges can continue to run efficiently. The increment in cost of the colleges is blamed on inflation and the increase in the cost of running the institutions. The author adds that in order for the colleges to remain in business they have to increase their fees. However, in order to control further increases or even reduce the cost, the government needs to improve its funding to the institutions so that they can continue to offer quality services to their students.

5. John L. Rury; Education and Social Change: Themes in the History of American Schooling; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 2002.

This book examines the sources of funding college education in the US. Most students in the US are not able to finance their education. Therefore they rely mostly on grants and loans from the government and other financial institutions. The author argues that the rate of inflation has been on the rise in the recent past and this has resulted into many students undergoing a lot of stress as it comes with a corresponding increase in the cost of college education. The government should increase the amount of grants that they offer to the public colleges so that they can cope up with the increasing rate of inflation. This will help in reducing the amount of fees charged by the colleges as this has been one of the main reasons that they use for increasing their tuition fees.

Work cited List

1. Cheyanne Hunter, Solutions to the rising cost of college tuition Atlanta Continuing Education Examiner, April 29, 2011 2. David Leto, Florida colleges are going to cost more, Fort Lauderdale Personal Finance Examiner, 2011 3. Fred Lucas. Analysts: Obama Student Loan Policies Ignore the Real Problem – College Costs, October 25, 2011 4. John L. Rury; Education and Social Change: Themes in the History of American Schooling; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 2002. 5. Sandra Block, Rising costs make climb to higher education steeper. USA TODAY, December 2007

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Making College Tuition

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Argumentative Thesis: Fighting the cost of college tuition is a hot topic these days. As long as I can remember, tuition has always been a reason why most people don 't pursue their bachelor’s or even associate degree. Today 's society has changed students are fighting for grants, financial aid, and even loans to pay through school. In order to be financially comfortable in the 15th century a college education is a must. It is an everyday battle getting financial support from a college’s administration. Colleges need to be more affordable, obtaining funds less stressful, and colleges must enact policies that condone these principles. According to the New York Times article by Steve Cohen, the soaring cost of college a 1,225 percent increase …show more content…

In this essay, the author

There are so many students who would extremely grateful to attend any four year institution but can’t because of the lack of funds. College life can be very stressful, and the process can is very frustrating to most students the first two years. When the cost of college tuition is compared to the 21 century financial economy the cost does not make sense, because for a middle-class family it is impossible to afford sending their child to any four-year institution. It hard for students to graduate with the stress to pay-off hundreds and thousands of dollars in loans. Going to college is stressful enough without the need to worry about how we’re going to pay for it and what other costs will continue to rise with getting a degree afterwards. With the current increase of unemployment rate and the thought of going to college seems like a farfetched goal. Many people choice not to attend a four year institution, because they did receive a scholarship or enough government funding. Having a college background is very important for professional growth, it will eventually limit career opportunities. My stand point is, you may not leave college doing the same thing you began with but the life experience is endless. College experience not only gives knowledge that builds you into a better person by giving a broader erosion. With the cost of tuition increasing will hurt our generation, by causing physical and mental stress but in the end it will all pay off. Not all colleges are for the blame; some of the blame is our economy and other factors play a big roll. As students we need to be aware of all our resources offered, such as Pell Grants, and government scholarships. For example, the some states will pay for a student’s college if they graduate high school with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. There are many states that are willing to pay for all or some of college tuition only if students are willing to use

Argumentative Essay: Why College Education Should Be Free in US

For so many years, college has been a struggle. We should rethink and revolutionize our post-secondary education system to help low and middle-income students and families.

For starters, we should first pass legislation or a presidential executive order that gets rid of tuition for low-income students and families. Tuition is a major issue for students, if tuition cannot be free for lower-income students and families, then we would have to seriously reconsider our options for advancing our education systems. An example of free tuition for lower-income families would be the Tennessee Promise (Source 1). The Tennessee Promise is a program that allows United States citizens who live in Tennessee, and who have graduated from an eligible high school in Tennessee, to receive tuition aid, and other college payments. But, the college has to be eligible for the aid. If the United States can make this nationwide then this program could significantly help reduce student debt.

Next, colleges and the federal government should expand federal aid to lower and middle-income families. This could happen by a piece of legislation or executive order. If this were to take effect, more students would be able to apply for aid that they desperately need. This would significantly lower student debt while at the same time reducing the financial burdens on students. An example of a program that tried to accomplish this was the “Free Application for Student Aid” program (Source 2). This program did not work because of the requirements that students had to make. Students had to be in a very low-income household, and while that’s necessary, we need to expand that program to low and middle-income students in order to fulfill our students' needs.

Finally, colleges and the federal government should take steps to expand programs that are already in place. These programs have been proven to significantly help students with finances and would continue to help students who need aid. A great example of this is the Pell Grant program (Source 2). This program essentially gives lower-income students money to help with college expenses. The money is given to students by the United States Department of Education. This program, like many other programs, helps to significantly reduce financial stress on students, and expanding this would help more eligible students.

In my personal opinion, college should be free for lower and middle-income students because too many graduates at the moment have student debt in the United States. And for some, student debt can be overwhelming and as a country, we need to take steps to help our citizens who cannot afford to pay off this student debt. Other countries around the world have programs for post-secondary education. I believe that if we accomplish these tasks provided, then we could significantly reduce financial stress among our lower and middle-income students.

In conclusion, colleges and the federal government need to step up and act to help lower and middle income students and families with the financial burdens of student debt, and college payments. If this doesn't happen, students will continue to suffer.

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The Argument for Tuition-Free College

Soaring tuitions and student loan debt are placing higher education beyond the reach of many American students. It’s time to make college free and accessible to all.

by Keith Ellison

April 14, 2016

(Shutterstock)

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Land Grant College Act into law, laying the groundwork for the largest system of publicly funded universities in the world. Some of America's greatest colleges, including the University of Minnesota, were created by federal land grants, and were known as "democracy's colleges" or "people's colleges."

But that vision of a "people's college" seems awfully remote to a growing number of American students crushed under soaring tuitions and mounting debt. One hundred and fifty years after Lincoln made his pledge, it's time to make public colleges and universities free for every American.

This idea is easier than it looks. For most of our nation's history, public colleges and universities have been much more affordable than they are today, with lower tuition, and financial aid that covered a much larger portion of the costs . The first step in making college accessible again, and returning to an education system that serves every American, is addressing the student loan debt crisis.

The cost of attending a four-year college has increased by 1,122 percent since 1978 . Galloping tuition hikes have made attending college more expensive today than at any point in U.S. history. At the same time, debt from student loans has become the largest form of personal debt in America-bigger than credit card debt and auto loans. Last year, 38 million American students owed more than $1.3 trillion in student loans.

Once, a degree used to mean a brighter future for college graduates, access to the middle class, and economic stability.

Today, student loan debt increases inequality and makes it harder for low-income graduates, particularly those of color , to buy a house, open a business, and start a family.

The solution lies in federal investments to states to lower the overall cost of public colleges and universities. In exchange, states would commit to reinvesting state funds in higher education. Any public college or university that benefited from the reinvestment program would be required to limit tuition increases. This federal-state partnership would help lower tuition for all students. Schools that lowered tuition would receive additional federal grants based on the degree to which costs are lowered.

Reinvesting in higher education programs like Pell Grants and work-study would ensure that Pell and other forms of financial aid that students don't need to pay back would cover a greater portion of tuition costs for low-income students. In addition, states that participate in this partnership would ensure that low-income students who attend state colleges and universities could afford non-tuition expenses like textbooks and housing fees . This proposal is one way to ensure that no student graduates with loans to pay back.

If the nation can provide hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies to the oil and gas industry and billions of dollars more to Wall Street , we can afford to pay for public higher education. A tax on financial transactions like derivatives and stock trades would cover the cost. Building a truly affordable higher education system is an investment that would pay off economically.

Eliminating student loan debt is the first step, but it's not the last. Once we ensure that student loan debt isn't a barrier to going to college, we should reframe how we think about higher education. College shouldn't just be debt free-it should be free. Period.

We all help pay for our local high schools and kindergartens, whether or not we send our kids to them. And all parents have the option of choosing public schools, even if they can afford private institutions. Free primary and secondary schooling is good for our economy, strengthens our democracy, and most importantly, is critical for our children's health and future. Educating our kids is one of our community's most important responsibilities, and it's a right that every one of us enjoys. So why not extend public schooling to higher education as well?

Some might object that average Americans should not have to pay for students from wealthy families to go to school. But certain things should be guaranteed to all Americans, poor or rich. It's not a coincidence that some of the most important social programs in our government's history have applied to all citizens, and not just to those struggling to make ends meet.

Universal programs are usually stronger and more stable over the long term, and they're less frequently targeted by budget cuts and partisan attacks. Public schools have stood the test of time-let's make sure public colleges and universities do, too.

The United States has long been committed to educating all its people, not only its elites.

This country is also the wealthiest in the history of the world. We can afford to make college an option for every American family.

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List of Top 300-Plus Argumentative Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics require the learners to investigate ideas, generate, collect, and evaluate the evidence before establishing their position. The question many students ask when educators assign them this task is, what is an argumentative essay? Well, this is a type of academic writing that requires the learner to present two sides of an issue or argument. Essentially, an excellent argumentative essay informs instead of convincing the reader.

Educators assign learners this paper to train their debating abilities. Therefore, it influences the public speaking skills of the learner later in life. Students should focus on information and fact instead of personal preferences or ideas. While the student should present both arguments equally, they can support one position only. Nevertheless, the thesis should include all primary points and their counterpoints.

Argumentative Essay Outline

Once you’ve known what this essay is, the next thing you probably want to learn is how to write it. While students have many ways to approach this essay, the classical approach is the most common technique. This structure consists of these sections.

Introduction In this section, the learner introduces basic information or background of the issue and their position. Also, the introduction should have a thesis statement stating the stance that the learner will argue. Reasons supporting the thesis statement Argument or reason 1 (first main point) Supporting evidence Supporting evidence Argument or reason 2 (Second main point) Supporting evidence Supporting evidence Argument or reason 3 (Third main point) Supporting evidence Supporting evidence Counter arguments and their responses Mention the other side’s argument if there is an opposing interpretation Refute the argument from the opposing side Conclusion Present your main points while recommending future studies or solutions.