The Access of Education in the United States - Case Study Example

Negative effects of the appreciating college fees The issue of the rising college fee has been significant in the United States for years. There have been numerous negative effects of appreciating college fees. The effects on students are most significant on students in the middle class. It is important to analyze this issue since it provides an analysis on how students and parents have a difficult time trying to meet the needs of a demanding educational system. In addition, the issue does not affect only consumers of education. Organizations seeking employees may also be affected by this trend. The government is also a major stake holder on the issue as it is in the best position to change the direction of the trend. The general population should understand the trend and provided with proof on whether the trend is justified. The cost of education has increased significantly. The modern day educational system requires a lot of resources from its consumers. This decreased the attendance rate in academic institutions. The situation is alarming since the number of college dropouts has increased significantly. This has become an issue since the access of education in the United States has been made difficult by the greedy nature of colleges. This trend may be harmful not only to students but to the general population since people with ability to access education would be minimize thus increasing illiteracy levels (Hoxby 100). With many stakeholders including the government avoiding the issue, the continuity of the trend may be harmful to the educational system. Additionally, the significance of the issue is that the effects of the trend have already been visible on both student and institutions. For instance, employers will be provided with students with low quality education. This would greatly minimize the potential of human resources in the corporate world (Hoxby 100). However, the argument provided may not be influential enough on all the involved stakeholders as some feel they may not be affected by effects of the trend. On a personal opinion, the trend will affect the quality of education provided in institutions that do not increase its fees. In addition, it would be saddening to witness large numbers of college dropouts as a cause of lack of fees. It would be also harmful for employers if human resources have low quality education. It is a general assumption that the issue of appreciating college fees in critical in the United States. This is based on that institution and corporate that would be the worst affected by the issue. From this assumption, institutions should put in place measures that are aimed at enlightening the society of the effects of increased college fees. The measures should also be aimed at eradicating the trend. In the modern American College system, many students rely on financial aid from the government to support their education. In the current financial requirement, the funds are at a high level. With the increase in college fees the funds provided to students may be increased. However, these funds will reflect as debt owed by the student to the government. How much burden will the average American citizen be mandated with due to institution responsibility? Colleges should realize this and minimize the rate at which they increase their tuition fees. In an argument by Hoxby the level of debt student are exposed to is significant (97). This puts students in a position whereby they have to sacrifice their financial preferences to clear their debt with the government. Hoxby asserts that by colleges increasing tuition fees student would be forced to borrow more from the government which would increase their debt (111). With the trend on the rise, it would be astonishing to learn on how much money a student from a middle level family will be owed by the government. This particular effect is one of the major effects of increasing college tuition fees. A century back the debt margin by student was not huge considering the low price of tuition fees. From the argument presented by Hoxby the negativity of increasing college tuition fees may be experienced also in the future (116). This minimizes the chances of a person being debt free since that would be faced with the task of educating their own children. An increase in college tuition fees widens the differences between middle class and the wealthy in the society. In an argument by McDuff, the state and numerous institutions should put in place mechanisms to improve the economic level of the middle class (440). This is based on that the wealthy in society are provided with more opportunities to succeed because they have an enhanced ability to access services. However, uniting factors such education is being infested with this trend. Education should be made accessible to all persons regardless of their social status. However, this is not the case. Rising college tuition fees makes educations a rich man’s service (McDuff 401). If college fees are raised by 5% on an annual basis, students in the middle class will not have the ability to access this service(McDuff 401). Prestigious educational institutions would only be accessed by students from rich families as poor students seek alternatives in cheaper schools. However, there is another option of learning through government aid. A student from the middle class may seek financial aid from the government with a future payment plan agreement. This aid will be owed to the student in future which would limit their growth from the middle class. If college tuition fees are made affordable and realistic, there students would be in a better position to clear their debt and be in a position to develop their social status. From this analysis, it is an obvious assumption that this trend is created by the quest to increase college fees. By colleges increasing their tuition fees, it is also a general expectation that the quality of education would be increased. However, this is not the case. According to a study highlighted by Johnson the changes made in the curriculum do not match the level which institutions increase their fees (288). In addition, public colleges do not increase their fees significantly but still use the same curriculum. Johnson points out that most colleges seek prestige by increasing their fees (300). How does it become important to raise fees for the sake of prestige and at the expense of quality of education? Middle classed student may be forced to cut their financial cost to fund extravagant college expenses with the hope getting quality education. This makes it unfair to this particular group of students considering their financial position. In addition, middle classed students would be forced to seek educational service at cheaper colleges which provide poor quality of education. In an argument by Johnson it would be a negative trend to provide quality education to person who can afford it (311). The author further points out that the migration to cheaper colleges has commenced (Johnson 311). This is a major hindrance to the quality of education provided to American students. In addition, one may point out that the increase of numbers in cheaper colleges would further hinder effective provision of education. It is a general assumption that the increase of college tuition fees has influenced this particular effect. However, opposition to this arguments have justified claim on the reason as why colleges have to raise tuition fees. Some may argue that the level of education in the modern day society cannot be compared to previous centuries (Avery & Hoxby 49). It is agreeable to point out the rising level of quality education requires higher costs. In addition, the argument may be supported by that institutions also feel the financial pressure. The rise of cost of living has also created a necessity to increase fees by educational institutions. However, I maintain that the increase of college fees cannot be justified by the harshening economic conditions of living and an increase in quality of education provided. This is based on the assumption the quality of education in schools do not match the quantity of fees demanded. Studies show that colleges use the rising cost of living as a scapegoat to provide quality education. In an argument by Avery & Hoxby every American citizen is experienced with economic constraints which exclude the rising cost of living as a viable reason (56). The authors further point out that, the level of education provided in past centuries was much more quality compared to the modern day education systems (Avery & Hoxby 56). This is based on the fact that educational performance in the modern education system has deteriorated. This argument also rules out using this justification as a cause of appreciating college tuition fees. Prestigious institutions may also point out the increased schools fees increase the probability of creating infrastructures in an institution. I agree that in some cases, educational institutions have invested significantly in the creation of modernized infrastructure. Additionally, the modern day education system requires modernized infrastructure to cater to the demanding educational system. For instance, Claxton& Carr point out that educational institution require the creation of Information Technology systems to cater to the need of have access to online learning sources and materials (88). Such changes require financial resources which can be obtained from students. It is also accurate to assume that students greatly benefit from these projects. However, I still maintain that educational institution should not increase tuition fees substantially. To cater to needs such development of infrastructure, the government should offer funding. In addition, funding can be obtained from financial institution. In an argument by Claxton& Carr increasing the mandate of a student for the development of institution is inappropriate considering that a student may leave their institution after finalizing on their learning period (92). This is why I believe education can obtain funds from alternative sources other rather than students to fund their projects. It is an obvious assumption that, appreciating college tuition fees has negative effects on students especially in the middles class. From studies analyzed in the paper, one may point out that it is more harmful to raise the stature of educational institution at the expense of education quality. Additionally, justification of this trend may be perceived as ways to protect the reputation of education institutions. In addition, the counter arguments can be easily disregarded considering that there are more viable options of raising funds rather than increasing college fees. Works Cited Avery, Caroline. & Hoxby, Minter. Do and should financial aid packages affect students college choices? Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2004. Print. Claxton, Gary. & Carr, Michael. A framework for teaching learning: The dynamics of disposition. Early Years, 24.1 (2004): 87-97. Print. Hoxby, Minter. The changing selectivity of American colleges. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 23.4 (2009): 95-118. Print. Johnson, William. Are public subsidies to higher education regressive?" Education, 1.3 (2006): 288-315. Print. Long, Terry. Does the format of a financial aid program matter? The effect of state in-kind tuition subsidies. Review of Economics and Statistics, 86.3 (2004): 767-782. Print. McDuff, DeForest. Quality, tuition, and applications to in-state public colleges. Economics of Education Review, 26.4(2007): 433-449. Print. Read More