Socialist College?

In society today, most of the higher paying jobs that are not vocational, usually require some type of higher level education. And to remain competitive, the more prestigious the university, the better. This also has an adverse affect, as the more prestigious, the more the cost of tuition. This is a problem effecting thousands of college bound students and their family daily. For instance, wile looking at schools to transfer to, the tuition ranges enormously. Take for instance George Washington University. They have an annual tuition of $40k a year. This is on top of trying to live in DC, where a normal lunch goes for triple the going rate in York. This is something that I have to consider seeing that my parents will only pay for so much with a sister in college and a little brother planning to attend in 2 years.




This is not how this scene plays out in countries such as Germany and Japan. As you continue on through your high school years, your grades, GPA, and interviews, determine which college you would go to if you plan on attending. Be it a traditional college, or a vocational school, all public universities are absolutely free for the student. And their Universities have consistently ranked academically with the best in the world(Stanford, Dartmouth, Oxford, etc.)

Now you don't have to go to a public school, there are private institutions in Germany, these however are for the students who didn't perform well enough to get into their desired state college. Opponents against a free education have some valid points. Ranging from the increase in taxes, to not having as high a level of education. The argument against lower academics is invalid, as we can see that free colleges worldwide perform at the level or above that of the best private institutions. There is no hiding that taxes would be higher, but with the amount spent on college loans and subsidies by the Federal and State governments, the amount wouldn't be astronomical. And the benefits would far outweigh the costs. I would allow the families and students to have more money, thus spending more and stimulating the economy. It would also ensure that everyone would have a chance to become educated, making the United States a key player in innovation, thus steering us away from the world view that we are a nation of idiots.

In conclusion, while I am adamant about this idea, I do realize that it is a long shot from ever happening. We are a country that values prestige and status, thus making the idea of everyone being equal and having an equal chance seem a little to socialist for most Americans. Maybe a compromise of more government subsidies for college students would help? But as stated earlier, most politicians claim education reform, and that usually turns into a false promise.