college tuition part of tax money?

Question

i'm doing a paper on why college tuition fees should be part of tax money... but i don't really have any (good) ideas. so if any of you, even if you're against it, could think of some that would be great.

Answer 1

Con: Not everyone wants to go to college, thus taxing them for a service they will not benefit from and I can see even MORE cutting out of the middle class.

Pros: It would be easer to pay, more affordable
Many more people would go to college-->thus creating a growth of educated people which could mean a chance at some prosperity
If it was worded right, there would be an increase in the lower class going to college, thereby raising the national minimums


It's an interesting idea. I would focus on the positive affect it has on the lower class to strengthen the essay. Just be prepared to defend against the cons. I think a good plan that I would use would be to make it an optional plan instead of compulsory. Good luck!

Answer 2

Libertarian here - and against.

Basic reasoning: getting a college degree directly improves your ability to earn more money. You getting a college degree doesn't improve my ability to earn more money. Why should I pay for (with increased taxes) you to go to college?

Economic reason: If the government will pay for people to go to college, colleges will charge at least as much tuition as the government is willing to pay. Since 100% of interested students don't qualify for that funding - those who do not qualify pay more tuition as a direct result.

An example: The military pays $250 per semester hour for tuition assistance for their members. If you ran a college near a military base, what is the likelihood that you'd charge any less tuition knowing that the government will pay you $250?

Further; the typical high school student places no value on his education because it is compulsory and costs him nothing. When students have to pay their own way, the tend to put forth considerably more effort and tend to achieve higher levels.

On the "for" side of this argument: society in general benefits from developing the full potential of all citizens. Someone out there might cure cancer if we simply get them educated.

Also, a college education results in increased earnings. Increased earnings reduce reliance on social assistance programs and results in increased tax revenues.