What are your thoughts about free college/university education?

2015-06-28T07:44:05-04:00

How can we make this happen? What are your thoughts about free college/university education?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 7:58 AM

2015-06-28T07:58:03-04:00

You are already entitled to amazing education benefits. When you combine Active Duty Tuition Assistance, Military Training conversion to College Credit, Pell Grants and the GI bill.
I am personally using my TA and Pell Grants to get a huge jump start on my college plan. I take 3 classes across each semester, splitting the bill up between the TA and grant. The hard part is picking the right classes and spreading them out over the semester my school offers, I try to take 2 right at semester launch then 1 at the later part of the semester. This is 9 classes per year. I have spent $0 out of pocket and actually had some left over grant money that was deposited into my bank account. Once my BA is done, I will still have my GI Bill for a Master Degree.

Response by SPC Makissa Lewis made Jun 28 at 2015 8:00 AM

2015-06-28T08:00:38-04:00

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 28 at 2015 8:18 AM

2015-06-28T08:18:46-04:00

This might provide some insight.
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/18/290868013/how-the-cost-of-college-went-from-affordable-to-sky-high

How The Cost Of College Went From Affordable To Sky-High

In the decades following World War II, many American families had a lot of help paying for a college education. But in the 1970s, inflation spiked and public policies began to change.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 28 at 2015 8:53 AM

2015-06-28T08:53:21-04:00

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

(Many) Colleges and Universities are Profit driven organizations, and as such the idea of creating "free" Post-secondary education would require a restructuring of how we finance education in the US.

The money has to come from somewhere. It will either come from the individual attending college, or from society as a whole. Currently we use the individual method. "Free" just means converting to society as a whole.

The issue with that, is all the existing "college debt" that exists. Should I & My wife have to pay for our own college debt, plus future generations, or will be be credited back all that invested money? What about people who have already cleared their debt? As you can see, the concept went from "simple" to "amazingly complex" in 3 paragraphs.

Add in those that don't attend college, or those who fail classes, or those who are better suited for tradeschools, etc.

College is not for everyone, despite the propaganda.

And that's before you get to the Constitutional issues, of whether the Federal Government should even be involved in the Education gain beyond a "referee" level.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jun 28 at 2015 9:28 AM

2015-06-28T09:28:14-04:00

I think the concept of a free college/university education is fantastic. However, we all know that there is no such thing as "free" ... so who's stuck with the bill? The taxpayer, of course. And we all know how that works --- as soon as colleges/universities can start billing the government (aka the taxpayer), they will. Naturally, the cost of all this free education will suddenly be even more expensive (because, after all, Uncle Sam has very deep pockets ... or so we're told). And, don't forget that we will also need a new government bureaucracy to administer the "free" college/university program. You think a college/university education is expensive now? See what happens when you make it "free" ...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 9:31 AM

2015-06-28T09:31:23-04:00

How do we pay for this with 11 trillion dollar debt?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 28 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-06-28T09:34:37-04:00

I think it's a good idea for our society to invest in our youth (at least to some degree), but I don't think this will ever happen. It would take a tidal wave of support, and I just don't see our society ever going that far to the left.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-06-28T10:02:41-04:00

Public education should not stop at 12th grade. Public secondary institutions could greatly benefit this country.

College is not needed for half the jobs out there. Maybe some skilled training, but not necessarily a 4 year degree.

But before we can commit to educating young adults, we might want to consider fixing some major flaws in the educational complex that has trouble teaching youths (funding, political school boards, standardized testing, resources available, teachers unions / administrations, etc etc)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 10:15 AM

2015-06-28T10:15:26-04:00

Government control over everything leads to social dependents, and economic slavery through welfare.
The opposite of independence, regulated by the Bill of Rights.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 28 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-06-28T10:21:28-04:00

My thought is that nothing is free. I'm glad the Citizens of these States United have agreed to pay for higher education for people who serve 3 years post 9-11. I think engaged, employed veterans are in everyone's best interests. Less Bonus Armies or further back in History, bandits.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-06-28T10:29:14-04:00

Can they back it up to 2009? And give me all of my education money back

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 28 at 2015 10:31 AM

2015-06-28T10:31:50-04:00

SPC Makissa Lewis I used most of my Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits to help my two older daughters through the beginning of college. Now about $100K in debt through Parent Plus loans one has graduated and the other is very close. I still have one more daughter to go now in her senior year of High School. I would love for the cost of some of our colleges to be lower, but they have expenses as well. I guess I will go the grave owing student loans for my daughters, but it was totally worth every penny. I wanted them get the necessary college education to start with.

Here is what really bites my rear posterior! The Foreign student that comes over to this country and get their degrees, leave and don't pay their student loans. I had a contract with the US Department of Education and I can tell you there were millions of dollars that weren't paid by foreign student from all over the world for higher education (medical degrees, etc.). We need to have some control around giving out student loans for foreign students. They should have to remain in this country and put those degrees to use until their college education is paid off. This affects our Federal Governments well as private institutions that provide help for college.

A little off the subject, but as most have stated someone needs to pay for the colleges and universities that provide the education - taxpayers are already paying for the cost and loss of revenue from student loans. Just an opinion!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-06-28T10:41:13-04:00

SPC Makissa Lewis, what would be the incentive to teach at a free university or college? Who would pay? Someone always has to pay. The other side of the same coin is that such an education may have little value to the student/graduate; I don't think that is necessarily true, just look at Germany's free colleges.

So, who would pay and how much? Would it be enough to incentivize good professors to leave other, higher-paying institutions? Probably not, and taxpayers would likely be stuck with the bill. Charitable contributions could be used to fund it, but those wax and wane with the health of the economy, and thus are not sustainable and reliable enough to support a long-term institution.

Moreover, do we want this to happen? Higher education is not for everyone. It isn't an end in itself, it is only a means to an end and not even a necessary means to that end. Some people are not critical thinkers, not scientists, not artists. Do we want them competing in the employment marketplace with the same credentials as people who have cultivated and are predisposed to those skills? Everyone deserves opportunity, but seizing that opportunity takes dedication and hard work. It ought not be given freely.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 28 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-06-28T11:21:16-04:00

This came across the radio this AM
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/06/28/418262031/for-americans-seeking-affordable-degrees-german-schools-beckon

For Americans Seeking Affordable Degrees, German Schools Beckon

More and more Americans are pursuing graduate degrees in Germany, where tuition is often free and many classes are taught in English.

Response by MSgt Jamie Lyons made Jun 28 at 2015 12:11 PM

2015-06-28T12:11:41-04:00

If college was free, wouldn't that just make it grades 13,14,15, and 16?

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Jun 28 at 2015 4:28 PM

2015-06-28T16:28:57-04:00

Well, this is the tenth plank of the communist manifesto. It's a bad idea. Someone has to pay for it, anyway, so it isn't really free. The government doesn't do a good job with the education that it pays for and controls now.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jun 28 at 2015 6:19 PM

2015-06-28T18:19:28-04:00

A college education is an investment. You need to weigh the cost of the degree with the opportunity for a future income and advancement. If the opportunity is good, invest in yourself. If it is not, do not. The studies show that over your lifetime you will make more money with the degree than without (although not always true). There is nothing wrong with working your way through school either.

The notion that it would be free is misguided. It would only transfer to the government and we know how well they run things. We are sitting on 17 trillion in debt and adding another "entitlement" on to that does not make sense for the American tax payer which there are fewer of than ever. Not everyone needs a degree, some go to schools to learn a trade or go right into apprenticeships and the like. We need to stop putting our hands out to the government, the government is funded by the people. There is no manna falling from heaven to pay for more government.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jun 29 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-06-29T10:29:27-04:00

Why should a poor laborer pay for someone else's secondary education? If you are not willing to pay for your own education, you will probably not value it, and therefore not be successful in your career.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-06-29T12:00:13-04:00

Be ready for higher taxes!! There is no other way to do this.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jun 30 at 2015 8:45 AM

2015-06-30T08:45:04-04:00

I agree with Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, nothing is free. Someone has to pay for it. When you pay for something yourself, you value it more and are more likely to take care of it and to study things which will actually pay you back with earning power. "Free" (meaning coerced) not only means that other people pay for your education, but that demand gets driven up artificially, so costs skyrocket and standards plummet, which is exactly what we've seen in an easy student loan environment. "The problem with socialism is that you run out of other people's money, eventually": Maggie Thatcher.

Response by SPC Makissa Lewis made Jul 2 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-07-02T09:34:39-04:00

Maybe, Stanford can be the model for other universities and colleges to follow. See link below:

http://secondnexus.com/social-commentary-and-trends/stanford-tuiton-will-now-free-students-families-earn-less-125000-per-year/?ts_pid=2&ts_pid=2

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2016 3:09 PM

2016-05-31T15:09:21-04:00

Consider: Why are diamonds, gold, platinum, etc considered valuable? Because supplies are relatively rare. What would happen to the price of gold or diamonds if everyone could just walk out into their back yard and pick them up by the handful? Same thing applies to college degrees. If everybody and their brother has one, the value of that degree is going to be much less. I can remember the days when having a BS degree was a big deal and you could pretty much write your own ticket. These days a BS degree is about the same as a HS diploma.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2018 1:09 AM

2018-10-28T01:09:14-04:00

Free for who? Someone has to pay for facility, instructors, and administrators. Free college will turn into free high school. How great is that?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2024 6:10 AM

2024-02-29T06:10:46-05:00

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about free education. Of course, it will provide some people with the opportunity to study because nowadays, the prices for tuition are very high. But on the other side, people value something when they have to pay for it. Free education can make students more relaxed, and they will care less about it. Right now, I'm working on one paper connected to that topic, and I found this page https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/college-should-be-free-argumentative-essay/, which provides some useful and interesting information on that issue. I've already had something written, but after reading this info, I have new ideas. So maybe after finishing that paper, I'll have an exact opinion.

Why Should College Be Free: Overview of The Benefits: [Essay Example], 1583 words

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