Why isn't college free?

Question

If it's so valuable and important to our future, then why do we have to pay thousands of dollars per semester?

Answer 1

because the government of all nations would rather pay to kill people by spending billions of dollars on weapons then paying for their society to get educated. With the price of one nuke we could pay for half of the countries education, that would not only help out the country itself but the world altogether.

Answer 2

Here is a good reason why it's not free besides the obvious reasons that it costs money to operate a school.

Think in terms of something that is given out without any financial costs, people take it for granted and it can be abused. There are only so many spaces available in classes and if colleges were tuition free, it seems that there would be some people attending and just taking up space. It would mean that there would be some people who would attend school to avoid going to work and become professional students.

While I would definitely like to see anyone who wants to go to school get the opportunity to do so, I would hate to see someone who deserves the opportunity to go to school not be able to get into school because the enrollment was full.

Answer 3

It's free in Uruguay, and their literacy rate (96%) is higher than most countries.

In capitalism, the belief is that those who work harder make more money and therefore deserve a better quality life, including a better education. If you have more money, you can afford the more expensive college and provide your children with better opportunities, and those who are not as fortunate are out of luck.

I don't agree with this at all, but many people think that such a system is fair.

Answer 4

Because colleges are out to make money like anything else, Some of the prices I have seen are just ridiculous, but the way the American system is set up, if you are not rich, then they want you to take out a loan for college so you will be in debt. They make sure you will stay in debt. I know Doctors who are still paying off college tuition to this day, I think its crazy myself

Answer 5

The sad truth is, that we actually need uneducated people as much as we need educated people. If everyone was highly educated (at least in one field of study), then less people would be involved in jobs like farming, garbage men, janitors, window washers, etc. Think of jobs that people look down upon. Those jobs are usually jobs for the less educated, but those jobs are ALSO very important, and if we didn't have farmers, for example, what good are any other occupations? We need food before we need engineers!

In Sweden, college is free, but taxes are very high.

Answer 6

If all colleges were free, then who would pay for everything?

Teachers salaries
Building costs
Maintenance costs
Administration
Housing
...and about a hundred other things that all cost money. Somebody has to pay for it, and the government doesn't have unlimited money. They do the best they can with public schools, elementary though community colleges.

Answer 7

Because it cost money to run a University. It's that simple.
It WOULD cost MUCH more at the State Universities if they weren't funded in part with Federal and State Tax dollars.

This is why Private Universities cost so much more, they do NOT receive tax funds.

Answer 8

College is a privilege not a necessity. It costs a great deal to pay professors, and have dorms, classrooms, and all of the the other facilities. Get a job if you have to.

Answer 9

lots of reasons
we don't have enough teachers for the extra students it would bring
how would you pay those teachers?
we can't have just anyone going to school.

they need to either
be smart enough to get a scholarship
determined enough to take out a loan a realize that it's an investment in their future
or (here's the slightly unfair part) just have enough money

Answer 10

You got the point there dear! College is not important at all thats why you have to pay. Cheers!