I feel sad that in today's World people have to end up paying so much for "Knowledge" so they can have better jobs and Careers. How can one enjoy the knowledge they have gained when the pay back of student loans are such a heavy burden on so many for this knowledge? I don't believe knowledge should come with such a high price tag on it. Student loans are also one of the few things you can't get rid of even if one declares Bankruptcy. Why is this? It's unfortunate that just like everything else today knowledge has become a high priced commodity which very few can really afford to pay for but need more than ever to obtain a job that will earn one enough to pay the bills.
In my job, I have been updating our categories in Asia and completed the Brunei category the other day. Brunei is a Muslim country, but the government pays the entire cost of education at every level, including transportation, food, and boarding when necessary. For students who want to complete a higher education program that is not available in Brunei, they will pay the cost of overseas education. Of course, the other side of the coin is that this stuff costs money, so if students aren't paying for their own education everyone else is paying for it through taxes, higher prices, or in some other manner. I think it makes more sense for the people who are availing themselves of the education to pay for it. I do agree that the cost of higher education in the United States is unreasonably high, especially considering that our colleges and universities are also receiving huge amounts of direct tax money, tax exemptions, and grants.
Much to the chagrin of Aristotle's wife, he did not charge a fee because he thought it immoral to charge his students to "remember". Although he didn't charge, he did accept contributions and gifts because after all, a good teacher should be able to be self sufficient. Education absolutely does cost a lot but if one does the research, there is a plethora of help to be had when trying to manage a yearly tuition. For example, a 30K education at Harvard might only cost as much as half of that due to grants, scholarships, and job programs around the college. Do please note: A Harvard college education is about 60% higher than the average non-profit college in the U.S. In other words, a person doesn't have to go the Harvard but will lack the prestige that goes with going there. MIT is another high end school with a nearly 50K tuition but 91% of undergrads receive some form of financial aid. Caltech, MIT's direct competitor, the undergrad bill stacks up to about 48K with 60% receiving financial aid and 98% of the grad students receiving full financial support. Note: MIT is ranked #2 in the world and Caltech is 77th for tech colleges. Bottom line is that while the cost of knowledge does come with a price tag, it doesn't have to be as drastic as the initial price. With government grants, (not loans), college and university financial programs, partial and full scholarships, and work programs, the brunt of the cost is much lower. Some colleges, such as Holmes Bible College in Greenville, S.C. do not charge their students anything if they are unable to pay whilst Harvard for example, has a program whereby the household income is taken under consideration.
To many Colleges take the household income under consideration for those grants, etc. that you are talking about @Bobby Cole. And to many students end up not being eligible for these things because their family's household income is considered to high. This leaves way to many Students having to take out student loans even though they also work part time and many of their parents pay what they can towards their children's tuition too. Just like so many other things here in America the cost of an education is becoming to costly for way to many young people. There needs to be some changes made here too.
True, College is expensive and not just tuition ...everything about it including food and books, etc. I paid for my kids first 4 years but their next 4 they took out student loans....think they each had about $150,000 to pay back once they started working in their field. Took awhile to pay back but they did it. Think as a dentist right out of dental school back then the salary was about $80,000. This was almost 20 years ago...don't know now. My grandson in college ..parents can afford to pay for his education and even give him a $500 a month allowance plus access to a credit card. They did make him work last summer but he could use that for whatever and he used it to by bitcoin and my daughter had a fit, lol. They also pay for his car and insurance and gas. He has to do well in school or he's out on his own they said.
Whilst I do agree that the cost is high, what changes would you suggest if you had the power to do so? Personally, I am vehemently against paying property taxes in order to pay for someone else's kids to go to school and some would suggest that the American taxpayer en total be held responsible for higher learning also. That said, teachers and professors have to have a worthy income and maintaining school structures isn't cheap either. So, what other avenues are there by which a student can go to school without the heavy cost?
I think there should be more Apprenticeship programs where the Students would get paid some of the money and some would be applied to tuition. There are also programs like for Nurses and Teachers where if they sign up to work in designated Hospitals and Schools for a few years after the get their Degree and doing this pays off their student loans. I think there should be more programs like this too. I also think they should be changes in how they figure the household income in regards to grants, etc. Even when a student does not live with their parents, the parents income is still a factor in if they get a grant or not, etc. I'm all for Teachers being paid what they are worth...but often times the Administrators are the ones getting paid way to much and I think there are other ways Colleges can lower the costs too @Bobby Cole.
Senior Citizens Can Go to College for Free or Cheap in All 50 State NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Trish233/Getty Images We’re living longer than ever before, and doing so in better health. So what can you do when you retire and want to keep your mind sharp or need to gain additional skills to stay competitive at work? For many, the answer is to go back to school. But tuition can be prohibitively expensive. At the same time, schools want their classrooms to be full of engaged students, regardless of age. In the interest of continuing education, many colleges and universities offer reduced or free college tuition to senior citizens (typically, adults 60 and up, although the rules vary). In fact, we found at least one option in every state! While some institutions only allow senior students to audit classes, many offer the chance to earn credits toward a degree at a reduced — or completely waived — tuition rate. Does your state have a continuing education you can use in your golden years? Find out below! https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life/college/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/ If Colleges can afford to send Senior Citizens back to school for free or lower tuition...then I really believe they can send all Students to College for lower tuition or even free tuition a lot more than is happening.
I agree with you @Babs Hunt and it's true. I only have an associates degree and was under 4 grand in student loan debt when I graduated. I did all my prerequisites working full time in a nursing home laundry and then worked as a home health aid part time when nursing school started. It was an easy job. I too have thought education is just pounded and in reality it's not for everyone. There are other services that people can provide that others need. Yet of coarse much of our manufacturing is shipped overseas. I have a small bookcase with carving on top and it still has the sticker on the back from the San Francisco furniture company (I bought it in a consignment store, It's perhaps from the 40's, maybe earlier) Someone supported themselves and perhaps even a family making nice furniture that people wanted to buy. Not everyone wants to be indoors all the time or work in an office. Some people have talents beyond a higher education. It seems our society, or perhaps western society, doesn't value those people.