College is Costly

The children are the future of tomorrow. It is crucial that the current generation in school receives the best education possible. This is the only way to ensure that the future will be a bright one with intellectual individuals and wise leaders. However, rising college tuitions across the nation have made guaranteeing a substantial future an obstacle for many.

It is obligatory that large institutions such as colleges and universities receive funds to continue functioning at the prestigious levels already established. Foundations, alumni, and the government provide a decent amount of money to schools, and the rest of the costs are covered by student tuition.

Paying tuition appears reasonable as education of such valor is not mandatory for individuals to receive, nor is it the standard curriculum offered in township classrooms. However, as college tuitions rise and the economy continues to tank, the necessary schooling for a better future seems more distant for hardworking students each day.

High school senior Jason Drucker fears that his “investment in education will not be reciprocated,” but what he believes to be an investment in his education is not what it seems. In a New York Times article,

Paul F. Campos reveals that the rise in college tuition is not so that students can pay for their schooling; the increase is actually being enforced in order to aid colleges in replacing what had once been state funding before it was cut. Therefore, students are being forced to suffer through debt so colleges and universities will not have to.

The greater picture shows that directing more funds towards the greater educational establishments is better for society. Nonetheless, when the hoi polloi cannot afford to attend higher education programs, the greater picture becomes a greater mess. This creates two different possible outcomes: students either go to school only to finish in extreme debt, or they do not go at all.

New Jersey senior Dessa Reed’s biggest fear financially about the entire process is that she “won’t be able to go to the college of [her] choice because [she] can’t afford it.” Her favorite school that she is applying to is the University of Delaware which has a tuition of about 30.6 thousand dollars, and as she will have to dorm due to distance from her home, she will have an additional cost of about 12 thousand dollars for room and board. Though she will be receiving assistance from her parents, scholarships, and financial aid, she still estimates that she will be spending 10 to 15 years paying off her debt after she graduates.

Drucker estimated the same amount of time in reference to where he is applying, but as the future is so unpredictable and tuition costs are spiked so highly, not every senior thinks the same way about repaying their obligations.

Bunmi Oyenusi, a 12th grade student at Kent Place School, is hoping to attend John Hopkins University. If her plan goes accordingly, she will be paying a total of around 62 thousand dollars prospectively without scholarships yet in the equation, which she is in the process of applying for. She estimates it will take her around 30 years to pay off her debts as she is surrounded by individuals who warn her that even after being married and having children they are still paying off what they owe. The thought of her future financial status stresses her out, and when discussing what she would say to college officials if given the chance, she said, “Think about the common individual! All you care about is money! Do you not care about educating the next generation?” Oyenusi plans to receive aid from her parents as well, just as Reed and Drucker, but is this process equally as stressful for such generous caregivers?

Mother of two children, one college student and one prospective college student, Mery Steckly will be aiding her son and daughter simultaneously in paying college tuition within the next year. Her daughter, a senior, is in the process of applying to schools, and Mrs. Steckly says she has turned down certain institutions due to their extreme tuition. For example, Fordham University totaled up to around 50 thousand dollars; it was originally a school her daughter planned to apply to before they discovered the absurd cost.

Steckly says she is afraid that post-college debt will end up taking away excessive amounts of money from her children’s hard earned pay checks, but she is willing to support them when they graduate to help them get on their feet. She says that her parental love and guidance will only do so much, though, as the high tuitions have made the supporting process harder for the average parent.

Over the course of the past few years, college tuitions have been on a constant rise. Since the government cut certain funds that were filtered to the institutions, they have risen their prices. High school seniors across America such as Jason Drucker, Dessa Reed, and Bunmi Oyenusi are wallowing in pits of stress with their anxieties revolving around their heads as they face their college applications that can determine the future of the rest of their lives. The higher education can lead to great success, but the cost of acquiring this intellect stands as a major setback for many. If anything has become clear, it is this: college is costly.