The Importance Of Universal Community College Education

The United States of America is a nation full of struggle and prosperity, failure and success, depression and enthusiasm, and freedom for all. A multitude of different presidents have attempted to combat these growing hardships and enhance the country's prosperity and success. However, some of them fail, get shot-down, or are simply forgotten due to the American people's tendency to write-off any idea that comes from someone who they do not favor or contains any single amendment they do not agree with. The current president, Barack Obama is known for his infamous universal healthcare policy, Obamacare and continues to propose new policies such as universal community college education. There are many skeptics that disagree with the idea of free
community college nationwide, some solely due to the source of the proposal. However, universal community college education would be beneficial to society because it would save millions of people money as well as promoting equal opportunity for American citizens to succeed. Eliminating the cost for tuition in community colleges would save millions of people significant amount of money. The reason there is a high percentage of student loan debt in the country is that “higher education is expensive, and initiatives aimed at lessening the burden on recent graduates should be welcomed as a step in the right direction. Providing options for students and graduates to minimize debt is of critical concern as the student debt crisis continues” (Dash). By providing different methods to lower or eliminate tuition, the percentage of student loan debts would decrease and reduce the financial pressure on college students in the country. More families would be able to spend their money on basic needs like groceries and housing rather than pay the unreasonable price for college. Various states have already trialed the new universal community college education program and Obama noted that “Tennessee saw the enrollment of 15,000 students in its own community college program this fall” and none of them needed to take out a loan for tuition (Baskin). Based on these results, the number of students in debt would decrease dramatically and save millions of students across the country large amount of money. The saved money can be used to pay for food, housing, books, and necessities college students must have, which in return, lowers the possibility of a student loan. Students around the country would now be able to save large sums of money from Obama’s universal community college education program by removing the cost of tuition. The equality in opportunities for a higher education is increased throughout the country by Obama’s universal community college education program.
Making college more affordable is “expanding access to higher education for every American without the burden of debt or financial hardship” which would include “incentivizing states to reinvest in community colleges” as well as “expanding federal investment in students” which is crucial in addressing America’s debt crisis (Hudson). As a result of the program, anyone from any socioeconomic class will have an equal opportunity to obtain a higher education and students would be more motivated to attend college aware that they will not accumulate tremendous debt while attending school. To aid in the growth of the universal community college education program, colleges will bring “more affluent students to community colleges, helping to make the schools more socio-economically diverse, and perhaps convincing legislators to fund them more generously” (Weissman). By having a more diverse school, the college will obtain more funding and recognition from the state. In recent studies, a diverse college is more likely to be academically successful because of the exposure to different groups enhances creative thinking, enhances social behavior, and increases the knowledge by giving different perspectives from different people. Regardless of social economic class, anyone will have an equal opportunity to a higher education by making college
affordable. Many people believe that since Barack Obama would have a cap on who is eligible for free college, there would not be a true universal program. As a matter of fact, some citizens believe that "capping eligibility based on income is the exact opposite of creating a universal healthcare program" (Weissmann). Obama intends to set an eligibility cap at the $200,000 income mark meaning that children whose parents earn more than 200,000 dollars a year are ineligible for receiving free community college. The majority of the upper class - those whose income is $200,000 a year or higher - believe that they should receive the same benefits as those with a lower income because they work just as hard as those who would be able to enjoy these benefits. However, those with a higher income are more able to afford community college and make up only "2.7 percent of dependent community college students" (Weissmann) and also, more upper class college students do not attend a community college because their gpa's are proven to be higher than those who come from low income households. Opening up free community college tuition to families who make over $200,000 a year would not impact the majority of the upper class; the government and the majority of the people would in fact save money by placing a cap on eligibility. Obama's proposed universal education program would better the community and offer more opportunity to those in need. Placing a cap on eligibility would not only prevent the upper class from abusing the right the lower class deserves to obtain a free community college education but promote more socioeconomic diversity in schools. Obama’s universal education program creates an increase in money saved and equal opportunity for a higher education by eliminating tuition to make college more affordable.
Regarding to the increasing amount in the student loan debt crisis, we must get this program passed. If we fail to do so, college will become a luxury in the future. Due to the growing socioeconomic gap, increasingly less students will be able to attend college in the future. Society needs to take the leap now and push for free community college before it is too
late.