Free public higher education is a compelling idea that sparks widespread debate. Is it truly beneficial, and more importantly, is it achievable?
College students advocate for free education during a campus protest, holding signs that read 'Education is a right! Free Education Now!'
The concept of tuition-free college resonates across the political spectrum. From former President Joe Biden’s proposal for free community college to Senator Bernie Sanders’ call for universal free public higher education, and even former President Donald Trump’s vision of a free online “American Academy,” the idea is clearly in the zeitgeist.
Currently, over 30 states have implemented tuition-free community college programs. While free four-year college remains less common, initiatives like New Mexico’s Opportunity Scholarship and similar programs in New York, Indiana, and Washington, are paving the way for broader access. Public opinion polls reflect this growing support, with a February 2024 survey revealing that 78% of Americans favor free college. Organizations like College Promise highlight the bipartisan appeal of making college more accessible.
But despite its popularity, the question remains: Is free college genuinely a sound policy? Let’s delve into the key arguments for and against tuition-free higher education.
4 Reasons Why College Should Be Free
1. Educational Opportunity Levels the Playing Field
The financial burden of college is a significant deterrent for many Americans. Cost is consistently cited as a primary reason why individuals choose not to pursue higher education. Many prospective students either cannot afford college or perceive it as financially unattainable. Lack of affordability is also a major factor in college dropout rates.
This financial barrier disproportionately affects low-income, minority, and first-generation students, who already face lower college completion rates. College Promise reports that in 2021, only 12% of low-income students earned a four-year degree by age 25, compared to a staggering 70% of high-income students.
The inadequacy of need-based financial aid programs like Pell Grants further exacerbates this issue. In 1975, Pell Grants covered 79% of the cost of college; however, by 2021, this coverage had plummeted to just 30%.
Implementing tuition-free college would be a significant step towards bridging the achievement gap and reducing wealth disparities. By removing tuition fees, we can create a more equitable educational landscape, ensuring that higher education is accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. As College Promise articulated, making college as universally accessible and affordable as high school is crucial for increasing college access, attainment, and eliminating inequities.
2. A More Educated Population Benefits Individuals and the Economy
Free college is projected to increase college enrollment and completion rates, leading to a more educated populace. This, in turn, offers substantial benefits to both individuals and the economy as a whole.
For individuals, a college degree is a powerful tool for economic advancement. Graduates can expect to see a significant increase in earning potential, with some studies indicating up to a 25% wage increase within a year of graduation. College graduates typically earn nearly double the annual income of those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, a college degree can translate to an estimated $1.2 million in additional earnings compared to a high school diploma.
The societal benefits of widespread higher education are equally compelling. Higher earners contribute more in taxes, bolstering public coffers. College graduates are also less likely to rely on social safety nets such as unemployment benefits and public assistance programs. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities estimates that each college graduate represents a net fiscal gain to society of approximately $381,000 over their lifetime.
Beyond economic advantages, a more educated citizenry is linked to increased civic engagement. College graduates are more likely to vote, volunteer in their communities, engage in philanthropic activities, and even donate blood. Furthermore, a highly educated population fosters innovation, drives technological advancements, spurs medical breakthroughs, and stimulates the creation of new industries and jobs, ultimately strengthening the national economy. The debate about whether college is a public or private good becomes less relevant when considering these broad societal benefits; it is demonstrably both.
3. Student Loan Debt Will Decrease Significantly
Beyond making community college free, initiatives to address the crippling burden of student loan debt have gained prominence. Outstanding student loan debt in the United States is a massive economic issue, totaling approximately $1.6 trillion, a slight decrease from a previous high of $1.8 trillion. This debt burden significantly hampers the economic vitality of the nation.
Student loan debt now constitutes over a third of non-housing debt, surpassing auto loans and credit card debt. While the Biden administration attempted to address student loan forgiveness, legal challenges have limited the scope of these efforts.
The weight of student loan debt has far-reaching consequences, delaying major life milestones for graduates. A 2021 poll by the National Association of Realtors revealed that 60% of millennials believe student loan debt is preventing them from purchasing a home. This debt also impacts decisions around marriage and starting families.
Tuition-free college offers a direct solution to mitigate this debt crisis. While students may still require loans to cover living expenses, the elimination of tuition fees would substantially reduce overall borrowing. A 2020 study by the American Enterprise Institute projected that free college could decrease new student borrowing by $177 billion between 2020 and 2030, representing a 15% reduction compared to projected borrowing without free college policies. This benefit primarily applies to public institutions, and addressing the high costs and debt burdens associated with private colleges remains a separate, but important, challenge.
4. Students Can More Freely Pursue Their Academic Passions
In a 2023 BestColleges survey, “pursuing my passion” emerged as the top reason students cited for attending college. However, the pursuit of passion is often tempered by financial realities and the perceived need for a strong return on investment (ROI). Students also prioritize “creating a better life” and “improving my income” as key motivations for higher education.
While a degree in a field like chemical engineering might align with both passion and financial security, a degree in fine arts may present a less clear-cut path to financial stability. The tuition burden heavily influences the ROI calculation for students.
Removing tuition fees alters this equation. While tuition-free college won’t magically increase the starting salaries for majors in fields like religion, education, or psychology, it will significantly improve their debt-to-income ratios. Freed from the pressure of accumulating substantial debt, students might feel empowered to choose majors aligned with their passions rather than solely focusing on high-earning potential. This could lead to a resurgence in fields like liberal arts, which have faced program cuts in recent years. A broader range of students pursuing diverse fields of study enriches the university environment and ensures a well-rounded curriculum for all.
4 Reasons Why College Should Not Be Free
1. Funding: The Inevitable Question of “Who Pays?”
The term “free college” can be misleading. While it implies no cost to students, colleges still require substantial funding to operate. The critical question is: where will this funding originate?
President Biden’s budget proposals included plans for a federal-state partnership to expand free community college nationwide, suggesting government funding as the primary source. College Promise advocates for a similar model where the federal government covers 75% of the costs, with states matching the remaining 25%. However, the specific sources of these federal and state funds often remain undefined, but it’s generally assumed that they would be derived from taxes.
Increased taxes inevitably mean that taxpayers bear the cost of “free” college. Another funding model involves utilizing lottery proceeds, as exemplified by Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship program. However, relying on lotteries may necessitate diverting funds from other crucial state priorities unless new lotteries are specifically created to fund higher education.
Senator Sanders proposed a “speculation tax” on Wall Street transactions to generate revenue for free college and student loan debt cancellation. This approach aims to shift the financial burden to the financial sector. Regardless of the chosen funding mechanism – be it taxes, lotteries, or other sources – making college tuition-free necessitates a substantial financial commitment from somewhere.
2. “Free” College Overlooks Other Significant Costs
Tuition is only one component of the overall cost of college. Fees, room and board, textbooks, transportation, and personal expenses can collectively represent a significant financial burden. In 2022, these additional costs averaged over $16,000 per year, highlighting that even tuition-free college can remain inaccessible for low-income students struggling with these ancillary expenses.
Furthermore, many existing “free college” programs operate on a “last-dollar” model. This means they cover tuition costs only after federal aid, like Pell Grants, has been applied. Consequently, wealthier students, who are less likely to qualify for Pell Grants, often benefit more from these programs than low-income students. Pell Grant recipients may already have their tuition covered at community colleges through these grants, realizing less direct financial benefit from “last-dollar” free college initiatives.
Critics like Wil Del Pilar from the Education Trust argue that “free college” in its current form is a “false promise” that doesn’t prioritize equity. He suggests that if equity were the primary goal, these programs would be structured differently. A “first-dollar” approach, which waives tuition fees upfront regardless of federal aid eligibility, would allow Pell Grant recipients to use those funds to cover living expenses and other college-related costs. However, “first-dollar” programs remain uncommon.
3. Potential Decline in Educational Quality
Tuition-free college does not automatically guarantee a better education and could potentially lead to a decline in quality. Proponents anticipate that free college will significantly increase enrollment. This surge in student numbers could strain university resources, leading to overcrowding and requiring institutions to expand infrastructure, hire more faculty, and enhance student services to accommodate the increased demand.
However, there is concern that government funding may not keep pace with enrollment growth and the associated expenses. Historical patterns of government underfunding of public programs raise questions about the sustainability of financial support for tuition-free college. If funding fails to match the increased needs, the overall quality of the academic experience could suffer.
Michael Horn, writing in Forbes, points to examples like Germany and England, countries with free college systems where institutions have become “starved” for resources. He argues that governments tend to impose caps on enrollment and per-student funding over time, which can lead to a decline in the quality of education offered. If public colleges are unable to expand sufficiently to meet demand, they might become significantly more selective to manage enrollment within available resources, potentially denying access to many qualified applicants and undermining the goal of broader educational attainment.
4. Ignoring the Root Problem of College Costs
Some argue that focusing solely on making college free overlooks the underlying issue of rising college costs and inefficiencies within higher education institutions. The Wall Street Journal reported that spending at median flagship state universities increased by 38% between 2002 and 2022, resulting in a 64% increase in tuition prices for students.
This spending growth is attributed to factors beyond inflation, including salary increases, rising utility and benefit costs, but also investments in non-academic amenities like luxurious dormitories, elaborate student centers, and impressive athletic facilities, alongside administrative bloat. Holden Thorp, former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, criticized universities for “devouring money” and losing focus on their core mission. The Journal also points out the lack of accountability for spending at public colleges.
Simultaneously, state funding for higher education has been declining in many areas. The National Education Association notes that 32 states spent less on public colleges in 2020 than in 2008, with an average per-student decrease of nearly $1,500. Instead of solely pursuing free college, some argue that focusing on increased state funding for higher education, coupled with greater financial responsibility and accountability from universities, could help stabilize or even reduce tuition costs. This approach would address the root causes of college affordability challenges. Critics argue that “free college” proposals merely shift the financial burden to future taxpayers without fundamentally reforming the underlying cost structures of higher education.
Conclusion
The debate surrounding free college is complex and multifaceted. Proponents argue that it is a vital step towards greater equity, economic prosperity, and individual empowerment, while critics raise concerns about funding mechanisms, potential quality decline, and the need to address systemic issues within higher education finance. Ultimately, determining whether college should be free requires careful consideration of these competing arguments and a commitment to finding sustainable and effective solutions to make higher education accessible and beneficial for all.
