What if there was Free University Tuition!!?

Question

Most Universities in other countries are free to their citizens, what if we had that here in the U.S.? Pros and Cons..

Answer 1

University education can not be reduced to pop-education. Quality and quantity are inversely related in the scheme of nature. The higher education has to be confined for those who are genuinely interested in that by devoting their energy, attention and resources both material and mental. Hence, there should be tuition fees charged but the scholarship holders among the students should be exempted from the hardship of payment of fees.

Answer 2

Pros (as they are not being mentioned)

Free tuition (or cheap tuition) countries have much lower expenditure per student so could be argued they are often more efficient and might gain economies of scale and standardisation.

Education is a general social good, most economists in principal that anything that encourages education is a good thing. Clearly government support furthers this aim. A better educated workforce is ultimately most first worlds countries main asset.

(best argument for free in my opinion)
Paying fees has been shown to be a horribly regressive act that favours the rich. This lowers social mobility which has a large effect on maintaining a meritocracy as good poor people can’t get a good education, underutilising resources in the economy. Look at modern social mobility in America for example.

Fee structures disincentives expensive courses which might cause resource allocation problems. For example business studies (shudder) vs medicine. This can cause strategic problems so in a war engineering might be more useful than business studies.

University graduates pay a hugely disproportionate amount of countries taxes as they earn more money than non-graduates so will be the ones paying for the system not the poor (non grads) on the whole.

The fact that private individuals have to step in to provide grants shows that society is willing to add extra funding for universities. Also government intervention is nearly always better than relying on angels to drop out of the sky with some cash. If its a personal matter about donating to scholarships then you are creating a huge free rider problem.

Fees disincentives universities to take candidates on pure academic levels. Scholarships in themselves might be biased in some way.

Answer 3

Education costs money. Thus when you have no tuition other people pay for it. I have an Argentinian Friend (well educated) who laments the fact that rich or middle income kids get reduced tuition that is paid for in part by the poor in taxes (direct and indirect). Thus free tuition would result in a transfer from poor to wealthy.
I know that Georgia (in the U.S.) has the hope scholarship. If you have a B average you go to a state university for free. It has caused grade inflation as teachers don't want to be the one to keep a kid out of college. It has caused a waste of resources as students who want the social part of college go for a year and flunk out. Now colleges faced with the above have raised entrance exam standards keeping students who are serious but bad test takers from attending college.
If you think it is a good idea then donate money to scholarships. If you don't want to do that then you only think it is a good idea if someone else pays for it.

Answer 4

There ARE free Universities!
It's called scholarships, and fundings....grants

Things you dont have to pay back. That's FREE.

What makes you think other countries have free universities????
That is simply NOT true.

I have been to many a country. They may have reduced prices, oh yes, but think , they also dont have what America has.
Which would you rather have?
America, the land of the Free, Home of the Brave?
Or, enslaved to your university for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!??
NOT free to leave the country, NOT free to leave your parents heritage....etc???

Pay the price

Answer 5

As of like two days ago, Harvord University will give a scholarship to anyone with 60k or less income IF you get accepted first.

Answer 6

So,you're practically asking us to point out international university in europe (since you asked for "english speaking"university.but,of course,except in england or scotland) that wouldn't ask you for a lot of money as an requirement to be an official registered student there a.k.a completely free. ckckc..you're out of your mind,lady. that's silly and preposterous. You better go to cuba. And i suggest you to bring along your scholarship,if you had.

Answer 7

"Free" University Tuition

Do you mean Ted and Hillary go out behind the Capitol Building and pick money off the secret Government Money Tree and we all get "Free" tuition.

OR

Do you mean that the government takes money from citizens' paychecks against their will and distributes it as "Free" Tuition?

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“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”
-Benjamin Franklin
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Answer 8

More people would be able to afford to go to college, get better jobs and get off of welfare or out of poverty. Later, these educated college grads will get well paid jobs and pay more taxes than they would had they never went to college.

Young mother + no college = welfare
Young mother + college = good job, not on welfare, contributing to taxes.

Answer 9

i would be soooo happy, thats what would happen