Piece of Mind: Free college tuition?

By Alexandra McCluskey
Staff Writer

Each year, colleges pile thousands of dollars in student debt onto the backs of their students, creating enormous amounts of stress and anxiety.

Not only could that be eliminated, but in doing so, it would create a healthier, more productive society.

In the United States, “the average total student debt continues to hover around $30,000,” according to U.S News. This type of debt right out of college is terrifying, but that is what is considered “normal.”

Go to school, get a good degree, and then find a soul-crushing job to work in the rest of your life.

These conditions and expectations are the cause of many issues. Before, during and after college, it feels like we are being set up for failure. The stress put on teenagers is horrifying, not to mention how hard it can be to meet the academic demands in college.

Forget if you work a job or have other responsibilities during that time, school alone can be more than one person can handle. And afterwards, once everything is all said and done, degree in hand? Then begins the real fun.

My point being, isn’t the goal of the United States to offer equal opportunity?

With how royally dysfunctional our government is, you would think the U.S. would look to other countries as a better example.

Look at Scandinavia, consisting of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, which provide free- or low-cost tuition. The government-funded universities reduce the stress and anxiety surrounding college debt, creating productive, possibly happier, adults.

Fostering this sort of education increases graduation rates, test scores, and an overall better education. Students are more likely to pay attention, put in the effort, and retain the given information much more if the financial aspect of college is greatly reduced or eliminated.

Don’t get me wrong, the entire system would have to be re-written; and though it will erase most issues, others are sure to pop up in their place. 

In the end, however, the cost is worth making the change, for the economic and social benefits to our society.