Student Loan Debt

Often, it appears that high school students are being pushed to attend college far more than in previous generations. It seems that this pressure is coming from many different sources. For instance, there are many jobs that are unavailable to high school graduates without a college degree. There is also the social stigma that surrounds students who do not attend college, giving them the false persona of being uneducated. High Schools could also be blamed for pressuring students, encouraging them to chase their dreams while not emphasizing some harsh realities. College has incredible perks for young students, but there is one aspect of going to college that has the ability to create detrimental effects: student loan debt. Student loan debt can …show more content…
Inflation rates are defined as the percentage increase in the price of goods and services, and can change from year to year. The most frightening concern about the connection between inflation rates and college tuition is that until the rates stop increasing, tuition will not stop either. Dean of Harvard College John T. Dunlap explains this point by saying, “It used to be that once in an undergraduate career tuition would increase, but from now on, unless inflation is halted, there’s no choice in the matter but to continue raising tuition” (qtd in Schoen). If the correlation between inflation and tuition continues to increase, will it ever stop? Ray Franke, a professor of education at the University of Massachusetts explains by saying, “If you look at long-term trend, college tuition has been rising almost six percent above the rate of inflation, that’s brought immense pressure from the media and general public, asking whether college is still worth it” (qtd in Schoen). While it currently seems that college is still deemed worth it, despite the current financial situation. However, if the correlation between inflation rates and tuition do not improve in the near future, then this statement will become a …show more content…
According to the senior policy analyst of The Center of Budget and Policy Priorities, “States have cut $13.3 billion from annual funding for higher education since 2008, or roughly $1,800 per student. Every state since Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming, spent less per student in the 2014-15 school year than before the recession” (Mitchell). This is where things get a little confusing. If there is such an emphasize placed on individuals to get a college degree, then why on earth would education get such a significant budget cut? By making these budget cuts, not only is there an obvious rise in tuition, but the student’s education is significantly affected as well. For example, “many public colleges have scaled back on important campus services like computer labs and library services” (Mitchell). Budget cuts are clearly harmful, and it is a shame that education of all things is getting the ax. However, other solutions must be found to make up for these budget cuts than to raise student tuition. Causing more harm for the students cannot be the solution

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