College Education for All

Albert Gu ‘19

Striving for success, high school students dedicate themselves to four years of intense studying and learning, all in the pursuit of good grades and a high GPA. For many students, the culmination of these years of hard work is acceptance into a prestigious college. Here at Ridge, almost nine in ten students attend four-year college programs [1], seeking higher education and the promise of a respectable career.

High school students attend college for good reason; college education provides a diverse range of advanced career options and increases the likelihood of employment. According to the US Department of Education, “Higher education is no longer a luxury for the privileged few, but a necessity for individual economic opportunity” [2]. In this generation, in which the job market is incredibly competitive, having a college education is extremely important. Colleges prepare students not only with in-depth knowledge of their field, but also with crucial communication and decision-making skills. Certainly, no one can deny the importance of college education in this day and age. So why is college attendance only 40% nationwide [3]?

One possible cause is the consistent lack of state funding for colleges, which has fallen by double-digit percentages since The Great Recession. This lack of state funding has since forced public colleges to increase tuition by an average of 33%, a rate far exceeding the growth of incomes across the country [4]. Because tuition is rising so rapidly, many students are unable to afford college, and, consequently, are forced to take out massive loans to fund their education. In total, student debt in America amounts to an enormous $1.4 trillion [5], a number far greater than it should be. Given the current cost of college, higher education has become an economic risk, deterring bright individuals from achieving their full potential.

Clearly, it seems counterintuitive that states do not support the education of this country’s youth. How can they encourage students to become future leaders and innovators, while making it very difficult for them to obtain the education necessary to do so? Shouldn’t all students have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and receive guidance? As such, it is absolutely necessary for states to provide increased funding to institutions of higher learning, to allow this nation’s youth to flourish. In the words of Aditya Agarwal ‘18, “The government should invest in its human capital, the young adults of the future.”

Fortunately, in recent years, the government has adopted programs aimed at increasing higher college affordability and quality. Under the Obama Administration, the distribution of Pell Grants, or financial aid, has expanded greatly, encouraging low-income students to receive college education. Likewise, new regulations have established college reform, focusing funds and providing incentives for high-performing institutions [2]. In accordance with these programs, Nastassja Kuznetsova ‘19 believes that “the government should increase funding for public institutions, like community colleges.” These government aid programs have made higher education more affordable for millions, while simultaneously improving its quality.

Nevertheless, while these achievements in college affordability are a step in the right direction, more student scholarships and reforms must be implemented before everyone truly has the opportunity to attend college. Certainly, no one would oppose similar legislature, as it encompasses the interests and desires of millions of students across the country.

College education has been—and still is—a privilege for a number of fortunate individuals. However, in today’s complex and diverse society, the need has arisen for a more educated and more enlightened population. Today’s youth will eventually join the labor force of tomorrow, and when that time comes, they will need to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Only through further education can this generation truly thrive. Remember this: an investment in education is an investment in this nation’s youth, and an investment in the future.

[1] http://www.bernardsboe.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3096886/File/Jill%20Shadis/Ridge%
20Counseling/Profiles/RHS%20Profile%202015-16%202-11-16.pdf
[2] https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-focusing-higher-education-student-success
[3] http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=98
[4] http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/funding-down-tuition-up
[5] http://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-state-of-the-union-2016-1