Make College Free Without Spending A Dime

[Luddly Neddite]

How Obama Could Make College Free For Everyone Without Spending A Dime

If President Obama truly wants to transform the cost of higher education, however, he could make college free for all students without having to lay out more money to pay for it. That’s because the federal government could take the $69 billion it currently spends to subsidize the cost of college through grants, tax breaks, and work-study funds and instead cover tuition at all public colleges, which came to $62.6 billion in 2012, the most recent data. (The government spends another $197.4 billion on student loans.) That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so. It could also put pressure on private universities to compete with the free option by reducing their costs, which have risen 13 percent over the last five years.


Eliminating college tuition with the money spent on subsidies could also make the system more equal. Currently, the government’s tax-based aid mostly flows to wealthy families instead of low- and middle-income ones. And Pell Grants, which do go to low-income students, have been cut in recent years and cover a small percentage of the cost of college.


We have the money but investing in our own country has not been a priority.

 

[Moonglow]

Then who would do the menial jobs?

 

[Delta4Embassy]

But but, if we make college free or even just affordable all the poor people will go, get educated, and toss out the rich elites on their ass.

 

[SmarterThanTheAverageBear]

How Obama Could Make College Free For Everyone Without Spending A Dime

If President Obama truly wants to transform the cost of higher education, however, he could make college free for all students without having to lay out more money to pay for it. That’s because the federal government could take the $69 billion it currently spends to subsidize the cost of college through grants, tax breaks, and work-study funds and instead cover tuition at all public colleges, which came to $62.6 billion in 2012, the most recent data. (The government spends another $197.4 billion on student loans.) That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so. It could also put pressure on private universities to compete with the free option by reducing their costs, which have risen 13 percent over the last five years.
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/01/09/3609832/obama-community-college-free/
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/01/09/3609832/obama-community-college-free/
Eliminating college tuition with the money spent on subsidies could also make the system more equal. Currently, the government’s tax-based aid mostly flows to wealthy families instead of low- and middle-income ones. And Pell Grants, which do go to low-income students, have been cut in recent years and cover a small percentage of the cost of college.


We have the money but investing in our own country has not been a priority.

Im with you except that I believe that to qualify for a free education , students should have to agree to work for the government in their field wherever their state needs them for one calender year for every year they got free college.

Meaning if you want to be a doctor, you can get free college, but then you are a doctor at a state ran clinic/hospital wherever your state assigns you.

If you want to go to college out of state, you are on your own.

 

[Uncensored2008]

But but, if we make college free or even just affordable all the poor people will go, get educated, and toss out the rich elites on their ass.

Yeah, that's what will happen, Comrade..

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

 

[Disir]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

I think everyone understands what that word actually means.

My question for you is, if the free that the rest of us are paying for is actually less than what we are spending now, what precisely is the problem?

 

[HenryBHough]

It would be easier if all those instructors got with the program and worked without pay. For the joy of teaching! In support of the working classes! For patriotism.

Oh wait....that last one was the joy-killer.

Never mind.

 

[WorldWatcher]

>

As a parent of two children that recently graduated from the University, I just thought I'd point our that tuition isn't the only cost of going to college.

There are things like living space (dorm or renting a room), food, books, travel, personal expenses (basics of clothes, soap, toothpaste, etc.) that all add into that time frame.

Just checked the State school my daughter attended the tuition is $9,800. But that no where near the cost of a years education.


>>>>

 

[Oldstyle]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

I think everyone understands what that word actually means.

My question for you is, if the free that the rest of us are paying for is actually less than what we are spending now, what precisely is the problem?

This is the part where you tell me that government is going to do this cheaper than the Private Sector...right, Disir? Because as we all know EVERYTHING the government does...it does efficiently and at a lower cost than the anyone else...right?

 

[Disir]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

I think everyone understands what that word actually means.

My question for you is, if the free that the rest of us are paying for is actually less than what we are spending now, what precisely is the problem?

This is the part where you tell me that government is going to do this cheaper than the Private Sector...right, Disir? Because as we all know EVERYTHING the government does...it does efficiently and at a lower cost than the anyone else...right?

It usually does. So, outside of ideology, do you have anything else?

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

It usually does.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

You quote me as having said that but I did not.

Here's what I said: We have the money but investing in our own country has not been a priority.

The rest is from the article.

 

[Oldstyle]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

I think everyone understands what that word actually means.

My question for you is, if the free that the rest of us are paying for is actually less than what we are spending now, what precisely is the problem?

This is the part where you tell me that government is going to do this cheaper than the Private Sector...right, Disir? Because as we all know EVERYTHING the government does...it does efficiently and at a lower cost than the anyone else...right?

It usually does. So, outside of ideology, do you have anything else?

You honestly believe that the government usually does things more efficiently and at a lower cost than the Private Sector? Really?

 

[Disir]

That would give all students who want to get a college degree a free option to do so.

I think everyone understands what that word actually means.

My question for you is, if the free that the rest of us are paying for is actually less than what we are spending now, what precisely is the problem?

This is the part where you tell me that government is going to do this cheaper than the Private Sector...right, Disir? Because as we all know EVERYTHING the government does...it does efficiently and at a lower cost than the anyone else...right?

It usually does. So, outside of ideology, do you have anything else?

You honestly believe that the government usually does things more efficiently and at a lower cost than the Private Sector? Really?

No overhead. That's right out of the gate.

Shall I go on?

 

[Disir]

It usually does.

So.........you just don't like it. Got it.

 

[Toro]

I think everything should be free.

Make it happen, Obama!

 

[Fugazi]

Publicly funded higher education is an investment in the country. Whether it is a net gain or net loss is beyond my scope, and ultimately wouldn't matter on this forum since nearly everybodies minds are already made up on every issue.

I would however suggest, that if higher education was publicly funded, that a minimum grade would need to be maintained in order to be eligible.

 

[Oldstyle]

I think everyone understands what that word actually means.

My question for you is, if the free that the rest of us are paying for is actually less than what we are spending now, what precisely is the problem?

This is the part where you tell me that government is going to do this cheaper than the Private Sector...right, Disir? Because as we all know EVERYTHING the government does...it does efficiently and at a lower cost than the anyone else...right?

It usually does. So, outside of ideology, do you have anything else?

You honestly believe that the government usually does things more efficiently and at a lower cost than the Private Sector? Really?

No overhead. That's right out of the gate.

Shall I go on?

I can't think of an organization ever created by mankind more prone to "overhead" than government, Disir!

If you want it to take twice as long and cost three times as much...let the government do it! That's an old saw but it exists because it's so spot on.

 

[Oldstyle]

Let's be honest with ourselves here...if we want to make higher education less expensive the answer is right there in front of us. The internet. I know the legions of tenured professors who are ensconced in colleges across the country won't love this idea but why do we need thousands of people standing in front a classroom full of students giving essentially the same lecture? Take the best teachers...have them give their lectures to a vast internet audience so that the cost can be kept extremely low because of a REAL lack of overhead and you could cut the cost of education to a fraction of what it is now! Or we can have the government take it over and make it much more expensive than it is now. Your choice...