The Weakness that is High College Tuition Opportunity is one of those intangible things that we are constantly reminded to pursue. Perhaps it can be viewed as an actual object or a path to follow. The fact is that no one truly knows what it can be, but we can all agree that an education has led many to a successful life filled with opportunities. However a high valued education comes at a price and it’s usually a high one, but most people are willing to pay this price no matter the cost. Higher education or college, is infamously known for having these high prices, and having such prices have numerous negative effects such as driving students into dangerous profession, driving valuable students away, and negatively affecting stability of finances and health.
First, this essay begins with some essential background information on how we have arrived at such high rates for college tuition. Colleges have indeed reached some quite alarmingly high tuition rates, and according to the National Center for Education Statistics: “Between 2002–03 and 2012–13, prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public institutions rose 39 percent, and prices at private nonprofit institutions rose 27 percent, after adjustment for inflation” (9). These high rates could have countless reasons behind them. Some speculations have been made that federal financial aid is responsible. The numbers of faculty present and their performance have also been blamed. In addition cuts done in public funding for higher education could also hold some responsibility for high tuition rates.
Even competition among colleges can be liked to higher tuition rates. To differentiate the elite colleges from the “ordinary” or two year colleges, the elite colleges increas. .ning that colleges are truly paying for the quality of their staff, and that is completely reasonable. However some of the more affordable, lower pricing colleges or community colleges offer the same educational content for reasonable costs. Thus making the expenses of some colleges for “higher” quality staff, to some extent unnecessary since in the long run could potentially drive possible students away through higher rates.
There are far too many reasons why high college tuition is a major weakens in a fully developed nation. People are being robbed off their opportunities, by allowing such high rates to be present, and these people include future educators and professionals. We cannot stand to be the generation, which perhaps sets back the cure for a deathly disease or a trip to an unexplored planet, and it all should start though making colleges more affordable.
