Should college be free in America, the richest country in the world?

Question

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

Nope, for a whole bunch of reasons.

1) That would be too expensive. For example, California, which is the richest state, used to have free college (the first two years). But they had to quit doing it because they couldn't afford it. When I went to college in California, it was no longer free. It was $6 per unit. Then it increased to $10. Then $13. Everyone was protesting about how expensive it was. I'm sure they would LOVE to pay that now. But California just couldn't afford it. If the richest state couldn't afford it, how is the country as a whole going to afford it.

2) There are already too many people going to college, and it's starting to cause problems. If it was free for everyone, then it would get even worse. It would dilute the value of degrees even more than now. You'd have even more people with degrees who can't find a job in their field. At the same time, you'd have an even bigger shortage of non-degree skilled jobs. The people with degrees who can't find a job will have to pay the plumber $200 to show up at the door, and $100-150 per hour for the work. They'd have to pay the unreliable handyman $70 an hour and hope he shows up. This is already becoming a big problem.

3) Straight math. Look at IQ and standard deviation. With approx 2/3 of people currently going to college, and a standard deviation of 15, you know that there must be a substantial number of people with below 100 IQ going to college, and even a fair number with IQ under 85-90 going to college. With even more people going to college, will they drop the standards so people with IQs of 80 can go? So people with IQs of 70 can go? How about IQ of 60? What will the degree be worth then?

4) When you hear about other countries with "free" college, you need to consider how many it's free for. I remember a Swiss guy on here who used to always talk about how terrible it was that the US didn't have free college - and how great it was that Switzerland had free college. Turns out that Switzerland didn't have free college at all - unless you were in the top 20%.

So free for what percent of the population? What is better? Free for 20% of the population? Or half price for 40% of the population? Or 3/4 price for 80% of the population? It's all the same amount of money, so which is better?

So of all these so-called free college countries, how many people is it really free for? The US spends more for education than any other country in the world, and it has the highest education attainment in the world. It's a question of how the money is distributed. The US spends more than any other country, but it's spread out among a larger percent of the population. Should we stop paying a portion for SOME people, so a smaller minority can go for free? So tuition will go WAY up for most people, but a small elite will get it for free. Then we could be like these countries with "free" college.

5) The number of people going to college has increased over the years. But the number of people getting GOOD degrees has not. The increase has been almost entirely in what we used to call "basket weaving" majors, not STEM or other high paying fields.

The number of people capable of getting the more difficult degrees in STEM has not increased. It can't increase without lowering the standard for the degrees requiring the highest intelligence. Any increase will almost certainly be more "basket weaving" degrees. Those will be the graduates who can't get a good job, so they can't afford to pay the plumber, mechanic or carpenter their high prices, which they can charge because too many people are going to college, and not enough learning to be a plumbers, mechanics or carpenters.

But keep up the mantra "Go to college. Go to college. It will solve all your problems." That has never been completely true, but at least it was partially true in the past. But that mantra needs to change. We are past due.

If you want to spend money we don't have on education, at least spend it on skilled trades instead of college. Didn't COVID teach any lessons? You know, essential vs non-essential employees. Guess which group most college graduates fell into? Non-essential. Guess which groups fell into the essential category? Non-college grads. It's past time to stop the college mantra. Give the pay and social status to the people who are most important, who keep us all alive, and things running smoothly. Not more money to non-essentials.

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

Post-secondary education (which includes college or other specialized schools) should have a free, public option just like there is for education for minors (Pre-K through Grade 12).

Right now, we DO have colleges and universities that are heavily subsidized by the state. However, yes, there should be a "USU", United States University, which is available for free but still with some limits.

Why?

Public education (free education paid for via taxes) was one of the most important advancements in the United States and the world. It created a more intelligent and capable populace that helped grow our country and make a better citizenry.

Well, in this current age, more education is better and a bit needed because of all of the technological advancement.

USU would have to have some limits regarding what it teaches and who it admits because it would not be feasible to admit everyone and it would be disastrous for the private college industry. Already, many liberal arts colleges are dying.

The USU system's existence would likely be challenged in court but that challenge would likely fail.

wiltingrosepetal · Accepted Answer

Making it free isn't going to solve problems. In Australia, we use the HECS debt. When we get jobs after university, a tax silently takes a bit off the salary, paying off student loans. The same system is in place for retirement funds, it's not something you have to manage, you sign up for it and the government does all the work.

I don't see why this system that England, Australia, the Netherlands and a handful of Asian countries uses isn't being considered for the US. It's pretty effective 😭

CrabCakes11 · Accepted Answer

If it could be payed for, sure. I think it should be much cheaper

Anonymous · Answer

I used to think so and benefited from similar in my country.

It's an investment on future earnings in the knowledge that they'll be taxed more in the future after all.

But this relies on them studying something that is marketable and ends up getting them that great job and career, and not everyone does that.

So then I'm moving towards: it depends. So a student loan seems appropriate in terms of you need to get that great job and career and pay off the cost of the course and if you don't it's on you. Which is more where we are.

Seems unfair to get someone who didn't go to university to help pay for someone who did.

I would go further with the government saying we need more of these so well give you tax breaks here. We need less of these so well punish you here. And maybe impose caps on what courses cost. Maybe they already do this, I dunno.

DrPepper12 · Answer

It's NOT "FREE" stop calling it that or the MAGAs go apeshit. It's "tax payer funded or "public". Now, yes it should be. Along with health care, public transportation, childcare, elder care, utilities, internet access and more like a UBI, housing and food support.

"The war is over if you want it"
John Lennon

OtterMan68 · Answer

it's easier to get into college in the US than it is in countries with tax-payer funded college. We need fewer students going to university and more going into trades. Many students who start university don't finish because 1) they don't like it or 2) they are unprepared

hahahmm · Answer

No. But if I wanted to go down that road, I'd say only hard sciences and only if the kid got top grades on independently conducted & audited tests. No BS with schools & teachers lying about test performance.

lightbulb27 · Answer

only if you are going to be a free educator.

of course not, people don't value free. everything has cost... someone else is paying.

I would like to go back to school... why don't you work harder and pay for me to go?

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Yes, but it should be free to EVERYONE. This bailout of already privileged assholes who don’t pay their bills is bullshit by any reasonable standard.

exitseven · Answer

It should be free. It should not be paid for by taxpayers. There should be an education fairy that will wave a magic wand and give you free college. Might as well throw in a pony with that too.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Who's gonna pay for it? Teachers don't work for nothing! There's also janitors, administrative people, security guards, upkeep on the school, etc..

NamerOfStars · Answer

Of course not; what kind of degree do you think you'd get from professors who aren't being paid?

KrakenAttackin · Answer

"Free" no. But colleges and universities should be forced to distribute 5% of their tax free endowments annually just like other 501C3's. This dispersal would more than cover students tuition at most institutions of higher education.

patois · Answer

Nope. I don't believe slavery is a good practice for America.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

It should be free for people who have a certain level of intelligence. It shouldn't be free for ADHD people who can't pass the most basic courses.

Anonymous · Answer

You think America is the richest country, that's cute Nothing is free and nothing should be free

BarryLiverstone · Answer

College should be valuable and worthy of an investment. Better colleges should cost more

djcrazy76 · Answer

ITS THE DUMBEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, USA HAS BIG TIME DEBT!!

gorydetails · Answer

Free? So the professors will work for free?

MK1997 · Answer

Yes it's needed

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Yes it should.

Should college be free in America, the richest country in the world?

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Why can’t going to a university be free in America, like in Europe 🤔?

Should college be free in America, the richest country in the world?

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Why can’t going to a university be free in America, like in Europe 🤔?

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