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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsEducationStarted 7yrs agoActive 2hrs ago

Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?

A 2017 College Board study estimated that the cost of college has increased 100% since 2001. The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank estimates that U.S. college tuition debt has increased from $480 billion in 2006 to $1.5 trillion in 2018. Several 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary candidates have argued that the cost of college is out of control and that the government should pay for tuition. Opponents argue that the government cant afford it and point to estimates from the Committee for a Responsible Federal budget that estimate programs would cost the government $80 billion a year.

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55.5k Replies

 @B6VXPN8 from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

Yes & no, but provide more scholarship opportunities for low-income students and dont gatekeep make it possible for every lowincome students or no income

 @8V9F33F from Alabama  answered…5yrs5Y

No, but provide more scholarship opportunities for students and provide lower interest rates for student loans.

 @9D4SJFR from Alabama  answered…3yrs3Y

No, unless the student has done something to earn that benefit, such as military service, nonmilitary public service, or the like.

 @97HJRYBDemocrat from Alabama  answered…4yrs4Y

Tuition shouldn’t be as high as it is

 @8Y8QHHS from Alabama  answered…4yrs4Y

No, but both lower interest rates and more scholarship opportunities for not just lower income students, but add different scholarship opportunities based on the household income.

 @8WP8KMR from Alabama  answered…5yrs5Y

This depends

 @8WHL5FGRepublican from Alabama  answered…5yrs5Y

Yes, but only if they are public

 @8NFNLV2 from Alabama  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes, but only for in-state colleges and universities.

 @BDXT7VJ from Alabama  answered…7 days7D

Yes but only if the students would take advantage of the free education

 @BDV72QM from Alabama  answered…2wks2W

The student debt forgiveness programs need a major overhaul and the ban on discharging student debt in bankruptcy needs to be repealed.

 @BDS99C8Independent from Alabama  answered…3wks3W

No but any college that accepts public funds must lower their prices or be cut off.

 @BDL2X2G  from Alabama  answered…1mo1MO

Yes, almost 30 countries worldwide offer free or virtual tuition. The U.S., one of the most richest countries should have no problem doing the same.

 @BDK2BQ2 from Alabama  answered…1mo1MO

College and University should be affordable and loans should be interest free from the government, until defaulted on

 @BDJZ4RW from Alabama  answered…1mo1MO

Yes, but only for in demand professions.

 @BDDH5PM from Alabama  answered…1mo1MO

Yes its the FAFSA its so good don't get rid of it trump pls.

 @BD8GBMD from Alabama  answered…1mo1MO

No, and stop Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans.

 @BD33RJ9 from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

No, student enrollment going up is leading to higher costs.

 @BD32CYV from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

No, college costs are increasing because more people are going to college.

 @BCZVJYV from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

No, but the costs for college should be lowered.

 @BCZQ7FKSocialist from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

No, but interest rates on loans should be lower and college in general should be more affordable

 @BCZ7XNW from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

no but policy options for reducing costs should be explored

 @BCZ36W2 from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

I feel like they should only pay for the people that cant do themselves or that doesnt have the financial abiliy to do it

 @BCSQ85NRepublican from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

If GPA is good and did well in school.

 @BCNVQ5LRepublican from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

Only if Colleges and Universities are held responsible for actual education rather than being diploma factories.

 @BCMXDKD from Alabama  answered…2mos2MO

They should set a cap on how much tuition should cost.

 @BBRL38NPopulist from Alabama  answered…3mos3MO

There should be NO private education! The government shouldn't "pay", because it should NOT be a capitalistic endeavor! Neither should medical services.

 @BBBTXW8 from Alabama  answered…4mos4MO

Colleges need to lower their prices, as well as the federal government also needs to provide lower interest student loans.

 @BB6DHPD from Alabama  answered…4mos4MO

Yes, but provide better education about alternative career paths that may not require a degree. Most companies only care about a 4 year degree because it shows the person finished what they started.

 @BB2SQ6M from Alabama  answered…4mos4MO

Yes but only for people who would really qualify and who have a high enough grade school GPA and test scores.

 @B9JSPCR from Alabama  answered…5mos5MO

Yes but with regulations on grades and having requirements for time limits depending on major and how long it requires to graduate

 @B975T84 from Alabama  answered…5mos5MO

Two year, community colleges, and trade schools should be fully funded. Four-year colleges should be funded if they are public schools.

 @B93PDYX from Alabama  answered…6mos6MO

No, but they should implement caps on college tuition and expenses for public universities, community colleges, and vocational schools.

 @B928NYD from Alabama  answered…6mos6MO

It depends on what they are majoring like if its a teacher or a doctor it the price for a tuition should be cheaper.

 @B92677Q from Alabama  answered…6mos6MO

I believe yes, they should apply federal government pay for tuition, but only for students who are genuine about college, and or ready.

 @B8S58TM from Alabama  answered…6mos6MO

College should be more affordable, and you should be able to pay it off promptly. College classes should get you ready for what job you want to do. So if I'm paying to better should pick my classes.

 @B8RXWXQ from Alabama  answered…6mos6MO

Just overall make it cheaper, i dont understand why it has to be so high most students end up in debt for the rest of their life

 @B8QNL8D from Alabama  answered…7mos7MO

Drastically Lower or eliminate the cost is college It is required to be successful which keeps an entire class of low income people down

 @B8PX8SWIndependent from Alabama  answered…7mos7MO

The government should provide at least half of the funds required to attend, specifically if students are studying business, STEM, health sciences, or legal/pre-law degrees

 @B8GT2FG from Alabama  answered…7mos7MO

No, but tuition should be lowered to be much more affordable, and scholarship opportunities should increase.

 @B86MLDQ from Alabama  answered…7mos7MO

The federal government should be involved with investing in higher education to the extent that it lowers tuition costs and enhances student employment following graduation. It should not provide free college as that would lead to a bachelor’s degree become undervalued on the level of a current era Highschool diploma. Finally, the federal government has the power and responsibility to regulate commerce. In this regard, the federal government has an obligation to prevent the exploitation of customers (in this case students) by businesses with an effective monopoly. Colleges are largely profit driven and the sole means of employment certification for many fields and therefore should be judged as effective monopolies.

 @B7TYK87Republican from Alabama  answered…8mos8MO

They should provide tuition for some students who need it and have earned it, but not just freely give it to everyone.

 @B7L69H3 from Alabama  answered…8mos8MO

Yes for certain career fields. Invest in STEM programs and incentivize kids to pursue those career paths. Offer federal internships and clear their college loans/debt once internships and degrees are complete

 @B78QCQ6  from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

No, but universities should not be charging so much for tuition and lower interest rates should be offered.

 @B76TD74 from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

Yes, depending on the education being sought out. Also provide more scholarship and grant opportunities for all.

 @B762X73 from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

Yes, but it should be income based. So partial for people who can afford it and scholarships for low income students.

 @B6XCCRJ from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

In instances of first generation college students and certain other groups should be eligible for college scholarships.

 @B6WM8Z5 from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

yes but only for certain programs such as any programs in the medical field and other necessary fields

 @B6SYFRG from Alabama  answered…9mos9MO

i feel as if the government shouldnt have to pay for school but it shouldnt be difficult for low income families to get scholarships or student loans.

 @B6RXNR5 from Alabama  answered…10mos10MO

I think taxes should go towards college tuition and classes. Supplies such as books and laptops should be acquired by the student.
Low income students should qualify for a program that will allow them to borrow books and laptops in which they will be held liable if these items are broken or lost.

 @B6QH868Democrat from Alabama  answered…10mos10MO

No, they should offer a mix of lower interest rates for student loans as well as providing more scholarship opportunities for low-income students. It's difficult for many low income students to get approved for loans as is, so lower rates is great but only for some not all.

 @B6NNKKM from Alabama  answered…10mos10MO

Yes and no because some people don't need the help but 75% of people do not go to college because they cannot afford it.

 @B6FQHDP from Alabama  answered…11mos11MO

I think the government should pay for it, but my true belief is that tuition prices are GREATLY gouged and blown out of proportion of what they should be and the universities are enabled by the availability of loans and monetary opportunities from banks and the government

 @B4MMPKG  from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

No college should be supply and demand like any other industry. Credit has driven up the market artificially and now education is unreasonably priced. Student loans are a farce.

 @B4H4W7N from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

No, but help fund necessary degrees supporting national benefit such as doctorates, law degrees, and most medical degrees, especially for low-income students

 @B42YLJ9Republican from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

I don't think they should necessarily pay for the whole college tuition but I do think that they should lower the cost of tuition.

 @B2GJX5H from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

It would help and maybe influence or motivate more people to attend college if they made it more affordable.

 @B2FKPS8Democrat from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

there should be basic higher education provided then have the more prestige schools be with a tuition

 @B2BXSH5 from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

If the student has proven themselves to what to have an education with their GPA. The government should not be handing out "free money" to those whom just abuse the system.

 @B227SF5 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

One hundred percent we collage gives us.opportunity to work for the government so they should.pay it they print it for free

 @9YDPWYG from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, but admission to universities should be more selective and more economically beneficial majors should be decided by the government.

 @9YDF999Independent from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Only if you have provided a service or held a position in the government like military to get help paying it

 @9YD6YF8 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes to an extent because maybe then there would be more people utilizing their education for opportunities to help their lives and others lives and we would have more people with better career opportunities because they don't have the stress of being in more debt by student loans.

 @9Y9NFWJ from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

The government shouldn't pay for full tuition, but offer more opportunities for scholarships, grants, work-study, etc. ESPECIALLY for the middle class because most middle class families make "too much" to be considered for grants but don't make enough to afford tuition

 @9Y8SGXW from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

If the student comes from somewhere where they can not pay for it then yes only if they are actually going to go to college for there degrees.

 @9Y86CJQIndependent from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

I think they should be able to help out people who want to further their education but cant afford to.

 @9Y2JVQKProgressive from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but provide regulations to lower the cost of Education and lower interest rates for student loans.

 @9Y2CWSQSocialist from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

It should be greatly reduced. Colleges should not use tuition to completely fund athletics. There should also be no interest on federal student loans and low interest on personal student loans.

 @9XVBLCY from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

I believe college tuition should be free, so technically I think the federal government should pay for college.

 @9XM86HVNo Labels  from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

They should pay the tuition for the people that can’t afford it. But the people that can afford to pay for it and not be in debt should have to pay for tuition.

 @9XKWFC5Peace and Freedom from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

yes and no, they should do it every once in a while and for people who really need it. And not just willy nearly.

 @9XFGSSD from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but they should lower the amount that a student would have to pay monthly towards debt, and provide better scholarship opportunities.

 @9X4RZZ9 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Overall the cost of going to college should be lowered. If they can't be we can provide more scholarship opportunities to low income students.

 @9WWVY9F from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes but it should also come with a requirement to work with disaster relief agencies or social justice organizations

 @9WSTPZB from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but universities should lower the tuition and offer more scholarship opportunities for low-income students.

 @9WQY9VS from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, We should provide more financial help and not base it on how much the parents make, because they do not always pay for the college.

 @9WH3T6R from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes because you want more educated people going to the colleges. most people are very smart BUT can't afford college.

 @9W3ZD97Democrat from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Not necessarily, but the cost of attendance needs to be reduced/a federal cap placed for public universities.

 @9W25P9PRepublican from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes but only for actual degrees that serve the community such as nursing, engineering, math and sciences

 @9VLBSFC from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, but only if the student achieves the equivalent of a C or greater, for a given course, otherwise the student should be responsible for the cost

 @9V5TCXP from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes and no provide more opportunities for low income but also for kids with really good grades and ACT shouldn't matter to much

 @9V5FRNG from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No. It is up to the student to make the test scores to get the desired amount of money. If you want something then you need to work for it.

 @9TYJGXL from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

There should be an ROI study done to see if the major of choice is going to provide a return relative to the amount borrowed.

 @9TRGBRSIndependent from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

The federal government should no longer be involved with mandating education at any level. Government programs intended to help the less fortunate and those discriminated against have created an unintentional imbalance in the education system, allowing those less able to be highly educated access to higher education, thus resulting in people who are less intelligent obtaining high levels of achievements while others who are more intelligent, but perhaps not part of a favored demographic, are unable to obtain the help they need to rise above their origins.

 @9TN7H8N from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but provide lower interest rate for student loans, and provide more scholarships opportunities for low-income students.

 @9TN5YJT from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

If it weren't for the tuition that I collect from FAFSA currently, there is no way I could have completed college. However, for people who do not qualify for this, interest rates should be affordable as well. Costs of college keeps a lot of great minds from furthering their education.

 @9SKX8K5 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

For members of the military and people that are indigent, who are willing to provide a service to the government after schooling.

 @9S9M6Z9 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but they should greatly limit how much colleges and universities can charge students for tuition.

 @9S8PPTB from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Tuition paid for certain degrees. Such as social work, teachers and other types of jobs that require advanced degrees but will not have high enough incomes to repay loans. If work for certain amount of time in field, loan is forgiven.

 @9S8D4V2 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, But there would have to be Requirements and regulations that students would have to uphold in case of procrastination.

 @9S6C8QH from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, but pay for partial if the student comes from a low income family and if not , partial and provide scholarships for both no matter the grade or family income.

 @9S2B79G from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but interest rates on student loans should be abolished and companies incentivized to aid employees in paying them off

 @9RWNZBL from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

College should be revamped to only degrees that can provide beneficial jobs. College should be field-driven, only take courses that goes to major. The first two years are irrelevant.

 @9RTYDMY from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

NO. Students don't take advantage of their free high school education. Not all students need to go to college. There are many that make more money than I do with a Masters degree. We need to get off the train that in order to be successful, you NEED a college education.
Make scholarships available. Make sure lower income students are aware of them!

 @9RTGYQY from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but they should offer free tuition to 2 year colleges and trade schools as well as lower interest rates on student loans and more scholarship opportunities.

 @9RTFXV6 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes for any class meeting "Gen Ed" requirements and remove interest rate all together as it should be considered an investment in your citizens and remove all debt forgiveness minus forgiving past interest charges once interest rate is removed

 @9RP2W22 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

Stop monetizing knowledge and lower tuition rates in general so education is accessible for the common American

 @9RK353C from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but provide scholarships/free tuition to incentivize pursuing skilled trades at 2-year institutions.

 @9RGQYND from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

For those that go into the medical field and K-12 grade with the understanding they have to stay in the field for a minimum of 5 years or pay it back.

 @9R2THMZ from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

They should pay for junior colleges and public universities, but private should be not payed for by the government.

 @9QPFP89 from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

institutions should be FAR more affordable and NEVER run as for profit enterprises. certain degrees would obviously be more costly than others, but all degrees should be readily accessible to reasonably determined students (i.e. significantly reduced 'gatekeeping')

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

A Moment of Darkness': Washington Post's No-Endorsement Decision Ignites Media Firestorm

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