Should Governments Help Pay for College

Should Governments Help Pay for College Should Governments Help Pay for College in the 21st Century? On the yes side of the argument, education is the only way to maintain a technological and developmental advantage over other nations. Higher education equals higher salaries and more opportunities. The problem is that the average cost of higher education is $87,000 to $115,000 for four years at a state university. Graduate programs will increase the cost and these figures are based on 2006 estimates; each year the cost continues to rise. Related Articles Why You Should Pay for College Yourself Why You Should Pay for College Yourself Companies That Help Employees Pay for College Companies That Help Employees Pay for College Average Cost of College Education Average Cost of College Education Yes, the Government Should Offset the Cost of College While taxpayers would carry the burden initially, government support of a college education can help eliminate the need for welfare. It can also help reduce the levels of family or class-related poverty. Children of college graduates typically attend college. The average family cannot afford the constantly rising cost of college unless the parents themselves are college graduates. Taxpayers support the education of convicted criminals who undergo rehabilitation in prison, earn high school and college degrees and may even graduate law school while behind bars. If the government can pay for a criminal's education, shouldn't the government pay for the education of people who have never committed a crime? No, the Government Shouldn't Pay for College College educations are optional and it takes a family and a community to create the right situation for students to go to college. Numerous scholarship opportunities along with grants and student loans are available. Students who receive a free ride are also less likely to value the education versus having to work for it. This is an unfortunate byproduct of human nature. Many self-made millionaires made their fortunes without graduating high school, much less college. The desire to succeed is the driving force, with college being just one more tool in a student's arsenal. If the government pays for education, the government can also institute testing to determine what a student's best options are and from there, assign jobs. While this is speculative at best, turning over a person's individual future for a college tuition check is not necessarily the plan that supports freedom of choice.