The average cost of college tuition in the United States is $35, 720 per year, which includes supplies, books, and room and board for students who  live on campus.

This unsustainable cost is drowning college students in loans and debt.

Free college tuition at state schools (this doesn’t cover private school or room and board) would provide more people access to a college education, thus increasing  employment for skilled jobs. As a result, the wealth gap between the lower, middle and upper classes would also diminish.

According to the New York Times, more than 44 million Americans currently hold more than $1.5 trillion in student debt. However, if students graduate without debt, they are able to focus on a track that optimizes their ability to earn, save and spend.

This consumerism would create more opportunities for employment and stimulate the economy.

On the other hand, free college isn’t really free since public education is funded primarily by taxes. The taxes will inevitably go up but society, as a whole, would benefit because they mitigate the system’s current inquites by increasing enrollment, completion rates and lower student loan dependence.

Research also supports the fact that an educated populus results in decreased crime, less dependence on social welfare programs and higher overall level of happiness within the society. 

The future of higher education rests in our hands. Debt has become a reality and a driving factor for many choosing not to pursue higher education. This doesn’t need to be the case. Every student should have an opportunity to pursue their interests as well as dreams without being buried in debt.