Four Year College Spending

Why college shouldn’t take 4 years The article “Why College Shouldn’t take 4 Years” published by Newsweek, Lamar Alexander begins by comparing college to the big four in the auto industry. Alexander compares college and an industry as a business that needs to be reformed before something bigger and better takes its place. He says that college is stuck in the past with the fall and spring semester model and can be reformed to a more intensive year around schooling for more efficient use of the school buildings.

College tuition The cost of going to college is getting ridiculous. If a student were to apply to an out of state public college in 1997 they would be paying on average $8,840; now at the same out of state public school they would be paying around $26,010. Are we expecting people who have little money to stop their education even if they want to keep going or be in a huge amount of debt? If colleges were tuition free or had minimized costs the economy would be better or could improve and so would the lives of millions of people.

The cost of attending college over the last 40 years has skyrocketed. In the 1980s, the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year public institution was around $3,000 per year. Today, the average cost is around $10,000 per year, a more than threefold increase. The trend is similar at private institutions, where the average cost of tuition and fees has increased from around $10,000 in the 1980s to more than $35,000 today. Not only has the cost gone up but the debt has gone right up with it.

When people add up all the extra expenses like housing and food that comes along with going to a university, some claim it is not worth the cost. Additionally, some students will need to take out student loans that will take ten years to repay

Is College Worth The Time And money Many people go to college for many reasons the main one for most is to get a degree in something they think will give them better job opportunities which in return would allow them to have a better paying job then what they may have now. A lot of time ,effort and money go into college and so it’s understandable to think that once you’re done you’ll have a great job waiting for you . In a lot of cases it really doesn’t turn out that way, but either way college is well worth all the time and money someone puts into it.

You must understand that most people that go to college do not get the degree they want in the timespan they are hoping to get it “only 21% of first-time, full-time students earn an associate’s degree within three years” (Weise). many people don 't finish college even when paying all the expensive costs ,“The 2013 6-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began their

This means that those who graduate with a bachelor’s degree, meaning four years of college, you get more money than how much a high

Make College More Affordable In the past 30 years, college tuition for private institutions has increased by 146 percent, two year colleges rose by 150 percent and state four year universities by 225 percent (trends.collegeboard.org). Because of these drastic increases in tuition, college is becoming more unaffordable for the average American. People are starting to question if college is worth the expense. According to Washingtonmonthly.com, state support for public colleges and universities has fallen about 26 percent within the last 20 years.

For many people, college is an important key for their future. Some people go to college for the job opportunities and the new windows it can open. Others go just for the education and experience. A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints; in truth, it is a possibility that one's adult life could be much harder than people care to think. One can have better wealth, is less likely to be unemployed, and a much higher chance of being closer to your family.

Though there are many individuals who believe that college is not for everyone, attending college and getting a higher education can open the gates to many tremendous life changing opportunities such as becoming healthier, begin able to secure jobs, and earning more financially.

I agree with the points Busteed made; the traditional purpose of college is no longer sufficient in today’s economy. The job market is constantly evolving, and students need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate it. Summary In the article “What’s the Purpose of College?” (2019), Busteed argues that the purpose of college should be to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to be successful in their chosen careers and in life.

Does the job the student wants require a degree? These are some of the many questions people ask when deciding where or if they should go to college. It is a depressing thought because college no longer the only option for higher education, but a business. A four year college is not for everyone. There are many jobs that do need a valid college degree, doctors being the first-rate example.

The associates degree at a two year community college is becoming the newest way to combat rising college costs. Students are no longer seeing enrollment as a freshman in a four year college as the only path to a degree. The stigma attached to attending community college has declined while at the same time the attitude towards the cost of attending a four year school has been one of growing disdain. My dad has attended the Bethel Park High School graduation for the last twenty-five years and he said he has noticed an obvious increase in the number of students listing Community College of Allegheny County for their post high school plans in the graduation program. The cost per year at a community college makes it an attractive option to limit the aggregate cost of a four year degree.

In 2011, only about seven years ago, our own university’s tuition cost a whole five thousand dollars less than today. It's scary to say that the inflation of Colorado Mesa University's tuition is not amongst those with the highest inflation rates just in our nation. Dartmouth University of New Hampshire has an insane tuition of nearly $50,000. Now let's remember that these numbers are representing one year, two semesters, of schooling. For those who would be studying for a bachelors would have to spend around $200,000 before earning a degree.

Do college students really succeed when they graduate with a four-year degree? There are millions of college students who graduate every single year with a four-year degree that accumulate several thousands of dollars of debt. Jenna Levine, an alumnus of Rutgers-University, graduated with over $110,000 in student debt. Student debt is a growing problem among many four-year college students. These college students enter into a life of financial struggle whenever they graduate from a four-year college.