Everyone knows education is important, that’s why students start getting educated at such a young age. Students are forced to attend school until they graduate high school, then it’s time for students to start making their own decisions. The ones that go to college are faced with college tuition and the expenses that come with college. College expenses keep an alarming number of students from attending college, yet this doesn’t cause colleges to lower their prices. In fact, colleges continue to increase the cost of attendance faster than inflation. The simple answer to college being so expensive is because it is worth it, but why is it worth it? College tuition being “too expensive”, is not the real reason students do not go to college.

College tuition is expensive because they want to make sure their students are committed to college. If college was cheap students would not take it as seriously as they would now with it being so expensive. This is why there are alternatives to paying for college. Scholarships are given to students that do well in school prior to college. The better students do in high school the better scholarships they can get. Students should be aware of this and if they are not they have nothing but themselves to blame. Scholarships are not going to make students pass a class, they are there to help students pay for college. Students still must go to class, do their assignments and projects, and study for tests and quizzes. An article did a study on college tuition and stated that, “…all students receive a full tuition subsidy, suggest that college exits often occur for reasons that are unrelated to the direct costs of college” (Stinebrickner 614). In this study, they gave students money for college tuition, room, board, and other college expenses. Even after doing this the results did not change, students with low-income families versus students with high-income families still had the same graduation rates. Making college cheaper will not change the fact that students still must perform in college to graduate. 

Investing in oneself is one of the best things someone can do. Typically, college is the biggest investment people make for themselves, but does it benefit students in the long run. After student’s graduate college on average they make around $50,000 a year. College costs around $10,000 for in state residents a year and around $25,000 for out of state residents a year. Of course, college students usually go to college for four years and there is interest on the cost unless student are paying for it out of pocket. All this must be factored in; however, an article explains, “In recent years, students have been paying more to attend college and earning less upon graduation—trends that have led many observers to question whether a college education remains a good investment. However, an analysis of the economic returns to college since the 1970s demonstrates that the benefits of both a bachelor’s degree and an associate’s degree still tend to outweigh the costs, with both degrees earning a return of about 15 percent over the past decade. The return has remained high in spite of rising tuition and falling earnings because the wages of those without a college degree have also been falling, keeping the college wage premium near an all-time high while reducing the opportunity cost of going to school” (Abel and Deitz 1). Graduating college instantly sets one apart from the students that didn’t go to college and the students that didn’t make it through college. Paying for college will seem expensive at first and students need to know this, but patience is key in the college process and students must know the importance of college. Another article explains, “Over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between a high school diploma and a B.A. is more than $800,000” (O’Phelan 10). That’s a big gap and that’s why students want to go to college. 

Going back to the quote in the previous paragraph, students must understand that if they graduate college, they are not just gifted a high paying job. They must continue to work hard and never settle. A big problem is people expect to be given a high paying job and when they are not, they are stuck with student debt with no way of paying it off. An article explains, “About 48 percent of employed U.S. college graduates are in jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests requires less than a four-year college education” (Vedder, Robe, and Denhart). Therefore, people think college tuition is to much. The college did its job by educating these students and they settled for a job they could have gotten with not as much education. Nobody forced these students to stay in school and continue to pay, it was their choice. These students have the potential to get a better, higher paying job, where they would have an easier time paying off their debt. Students cannot blame colleges for putting themselves into debt, they only have themselves to blame.

Colleges can make their own decisions on what their prices to attend them are. With college having so many benefits they can increase their price and students will still attend. An article states, “College graduates have lower unemployment rates, and the unemployment rates decrease with higher educational attainment” (Is College Worth the Cost 1). When colleges see this, they understand increasing the price of college tuition will not affect their enrollment status. There are students who graduate college and beat the odds with a top tier job. A college has never asked a student to give them more money because they have a top tier high paying job. Are the colleges getting ripped off? So, when students’ graduate college and do not make as much money as they thought, they cannot get upset that they paid to much for school. It goes both ways and still, the colleges are the ones that get blamed for putting students in debt. 

College tuition is expensive and a big reason behind college tuition being so pricey is because they know people will pay it. Not only do students like nice things, but the students parents want what’s best for their kids. Not only does college tuition continue to rise, but enrollment to colleges also is rising. More and more people are starting to go to college and the colleges know this so they increase their price. An article did a study to see if increasing the price of college tuition effected enrollment and found that, “…enrollment changes were not affected by changes in tuition or financial aid…” (Hemelt and Marcotte 437). After reading over this experiment I concluded that the price of college tuition is not a reason students do not go to college. Students are more worried about getting their education while going to the college of their choice. Students understand they are going into debt, but know they do not have to worry about their debt until they graduate.

Students who go to college must be aware of what they are getting themselves into. They know college is expensive, but do they know it can be a whole lot cheaper? Students need to be aware of the options they have available whether it be applying for certain scholarships, going to a school in-state, buying school supplies online, etc. According to Perna, “In 1999 to 2000, 1.7 million low- and moderate-income undergraduates who were enrolled for credit at higher education institutions nationwide did not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid” (1622). This is absurd, federal student aid is where one should start and there are that many people skipping right over it. I’m mind boggled by this because of how many people complain about college tuition and yet there are people who do not get federal student loans. These are the cheapest loans one can find, and they need to be utilized more than they already are. This shows students go to college not worried about the price of college and then when they graduate they are hit with bills that could have been cheaper. Students then blame colleges for being too expensive when it is the students fault for not being aware of cheaper alternatives.

Yes, colleges make a lot of money, but they also spend a lot of money. Technology is always improving, and the colleges must stay up to date with the newer technology. Once one college updates there technology more follow so they don’t look bad. An article states, “Colleges and universities have to adopt new practices and new technology even if doing so results in higher costs” (Archibald and Feldman 7). Since technology is always changing, colleges are constantly putting money into their program which results in higher tuition cost. They must do this because students must learn the newest technology, so the students are not behind when they graduate. Once again, colleges get blamed for raising their prices when it’s not even their fault. It would be the peoples fault for inventing newer, better ways to do things. Which is just completely false, it is just the way the world works. 

The government has helped with college tuition over the years because they know education is everything. The government wants more educated people because it will help the economy. College is where the education happens, and the government is aware of the price to get educated so they help. “States and the federal government currently spend more than $53 billion annually, hoping to promote greater access to college” (Kane). The government helps low income families because they know they need it. Obviously most of the time low income students are not going to be given a full ride and tis goes back to the colleges wanting to make sure the students they accept are committed to the college process. They are given help, but they should not rely on this help. Students with low income families must know they are at a disadvantage. Not because they don’t have the money, but because they weren’t led by great example. At some point students who are rich, poor, or middle-class, need to stop going off what their parents are doing and do what is best for them. 

People are always blaming the price of college tuition the reason students do not attend college however, that cannot be the only reason. I believe that saying that’s the reason is just an excuse for college is not right for oneself. An article claims, “…counselors do not like giving students bad news about their future prospects, do not want the responsibility, and do not believe they have the authority to do it, especially when parents have opposing views” (Rosenbaum, Miller, and Krei). Being from a high school with around 3,000 students I can relate to this. Students are not being lied to, but are told what they want to hear. Counselors are supposed to be giving these students guidance in life to help them in the future whether it be 20 years from now or tomorrow. Students, whether the know it or not, need these counselors to help them and yet the counselors are not being honest with them. Counselors put all these ideas in students head about going to college and then the students become seniors in high school and are faced with college tuition, so they panic. Counselors need to be straight up with their students and help them form a path that will allow them to go to college if that’s what they would like to do. 

College tuition is expensive yes, but it is not an excuse to why students do not go college. There are many ways to pay for college, students just have to want it. College does not only help students find a job, but after graduating the amount of people and connections students make, makes it all worth it. I encourage students who think they cannot go to college because of the price, to not use that as the first excuse. Instead students should do research on what can be done to be able to afford college and make their dreams come true.
