How To Make College Affordable Again

College is out of reach for many Americans simply because it costs too much to go. The way to make college affordable again is pretty simple: Have the government pay for it again.

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Calling because I want to ask just about the future of higher education affordability. I'm not sure if people are aware but college enrollment is significantly down. And part of it is because there are just fewer students but part of it is because the students there are making a cost-benefit decision not to go. And maybe I'm wrong but this to me is of economic consequence so I'm just wondering your thoughts on if that will initiate or instigate or inspire any sort of additional legislation on making higher education more affordable. I mean what needs to be done? I appreciate the call. what needs to happen and you can look at this in the data. We need to fund state schools. We need to support them more. because they have sent they have basically pushed the cost of college onto the students relative to where we were 20 years ago 30 years ago 40 years ago. and we need to fund those state colleges. and I think the only way that can happen ultimately is from the federal government. and I think once you make them basically a free option or effectively free option in every state you'll see private colleges dropping their tuition too. because I think a lot of people would opt for state universities. I mean broadly speaking, state universities can be exceptional and the more students it attracts, the more students who would otherwise go to a more prestigious school. but now because the prices are you know or there's no cost or low cost and I think it will create downward pressure on the rest of college tuition.

[vanadyan]

The most simple solution is to remove the tax exempt status of any college or university where tuition cost increases have outpaced inflation.

[VIi]

When I was in high school my dad just straight up told me if I don’t get a full ride sports scholarship that I couldn’t go to college. We were in the weird in between zone financially where we couldn’t afford college but made too much to get most scholarships. Community college at the least should be free

[paulroyle-grimes]

Part of this HAS to be the cost of facilities. The colleges all think they need new buildings and high end eating facilities and fancy dorms. Maybe there should be some nostalgia for the hallowed halls of the old brick, stone and mortar. Because professors are payed virtually nothing.

[pwesiti]

The thing nobody wants to talk about at ALL colleges is that there is so much administrative bloat now than fifty years ago. Of course as things have gotten more complicated there will naturally be more admins than before. That doesn’t explain how things are at colleges. The number of professors to admins needs to be brought under control.

[juliettaylorswift]

i went to state university and scholarships/grants covered most of undergrad, but i still have over 60k loans from the rest of undergrad and masters degree...graduated end of 2020 and still unsuccessfully job searching. And this was while being lucky enough to have relative to stay with so no housing fees.

[Malacite]

Nationalize the schools (the state ones anyway) and fund them federally. If it becomes a problem then institute an enrollment fee that people can claim on their taxes for a refund later IF their grades are good enough.

Higher education needs to be treated properly, which is as an investment in a nation's future and health, fundamental to having an informed electorate and skilled labor force.

EDIT: The big banks won't like it but tough shit, they need to be removed from the equation entirely. Student loans are nothing but a form of modern day loan sharking, serving as a pseudo debaters prison

[soulknife]

Make it free. We do it for public schools. This isn't hard.

[Salndin]

I went to San Jose State University. A big chunk of your Silicon Valley folks, have come out of that school. State schools can be very competitive.

[buzzhawk]

Education, just like healthcare and housing are human rights according to the UN, but the US of A has not signed on to these.

[liberalrationalist]

A lot of babbling by Seder without attacking the core issue: Why have costs gone so high? Do colleges and universities use tuition to subsidize sports? Why not require professional leagues pay 100% (or 120%) of the cost of college sports programs. After all, who benefits from college sports? Oil companies? If a college athlete can (today) make a profit as an athlete, why not the school hosting the program? Do schools license their R&D, for profit, to companies? Could schools require a "finder's fee" for students a company hires???? Sound crazy? But without the school the company would hire no one.

BTW, in the middle of the 20th century, some companies had their own college level courses for outstanding high school graduates.

[andromidius]

Oh, I know the answer!

Stop charging for it and provide it as a government service.

Boom, problem solved.

[nd-place]

Nothing meaningful will happen until the right to education is amended to the constitution, PK-16.

[flyinhawaiian]

Want people to join the military? Offer zero interest mortgage loans!

[rochellemcdonald]

If there is free college, there should still be some 'cost'. Something like giving back some, community service, or something. Being free is sometimes looked upon as having no value, in our country. The price tag doesn't have to be much, just some.

[nickanderson]

Just throw predatory lenders into lava. Easy peasy!

[kevin_andrews]

Well, they can incentivize military recruitment with housing, and healthcare too at the moment.

[zacg_]

It's easy. Make higher education a monopsony and make the federal government the single buyer and that's how you control the costs. This isn't very complicated.

[Tychoxi]

Step 1. Eat the rich.
Step 2. Debt? What debt?

[shannonbloom]

Higher or secondary education costs will not be affordable until the politically powerful decide that education is not a tool for the politically disadvantage or economically disadvantaged to gain power and afford more to populations who have less. So probably never.

[jim]

competition would drive the costs wow, a broken clock IS right sometimes...