The Benefits of Free Higher Education: A Comprehensive Analysis

This essay argues for the implementation of free higher education at the college and university levels. It emphasizes the importance of education in determining future success and the challenges posed by increasingly expensive courses, which often lead to student dropouts. The essay's thesis is supported by several points: free education enhances accessibility, promotes equality, and reduces student debt, enabling more students to pursue higher qualifications. It highlights the potential for increased innovation, societal progress, and the development of a more skilled workforce. The author also underscores the importance of government investment in education to provide opportunities for all citizens, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. The essay concludes that free higher education is crucial for fostering a more equitable and prosperous society, where talent is not stifled by financial constraints, and where all individuals can achieve their full potential.

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English
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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Education is very important as it determines future and how capable one would become
in their lives. College and Universities allow the right passage and direction to people to achieve
their dreams in life. The education which people receive in college and Universities enable them
to establish themselves in the vast and competitive world. In College and Universities students
broaden their learning areas and learn about different things which are very crucial to become
competent in the extremely stimulating global environment (Van Hoof). However, as people
male progress to reach higher education, the courses become increasingly expensive, which often
compel students to drop out and discontinue the courses. The thesis of this essay is to discuss
why education at the higher levels, such as colleges and Universities should be free.
Higher Education was earlier very less accessible by students as not everyone could go
and achieve higher education due to various factors. Higher Education has become very
important as it determines as person’s eligibility in the extremely competitive world (Van Hoof).
Therefore, the necessity of higher education is increasing with each passing day as everyone
should have access to higher education, which can be achieved in colleges and universities.
Colleges and Universities allow students to enlarge and broaden their learnings so that they can
take up more crucial roles (Jeffrey). Therefore, it is very important for higher education to be
made more accessible by making them free. This would allow students to be more proactive and
interested to engage in higher education to achieve qualification which will enhance their
chances and increase credibility.
Colleges and Universities should offer free courses which will allow better opportunities
or students and increase equality in the society (Gutmann and Ben-Porath). The course fees often
dissuade students from pursuing higher education, even though they are very much capable of
achieving higher degrees and becoming more competent. However, if students are given with

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opportunities to achieve higher qualification which are offered in colleges and universities,
which are free of cost, they will be encouraged (Jeffrey). Students are compelled to take up loans
in order to complete their education, which is very discouraging and thus, they cannot even think
of higher studies if they have financial crises and responsibilities to carry out (Hersh and
Merrow). Therefore, they feel the need to enter the job market, rather than pursuing higher
studies, which would have otherwise increased chances in their professional career. Students are
forced to compromise their goals and dreams midway as the course fees are extremely high
(Hersh and Merrow). However, if the courses are offered for free, students will be provided with
opportunities to excel in life and be more competent to take up responsibilities in the extremely
competitive world.
It is interesting to note that if higher education at college and universities are offered for
free, the specialization of work will increase which will set better standard of work at the work
places, Therefore, meeting an average standard, will no longer be the criteria and students and
employees will try to achieve more and meet the exemplary benchmarks. It has been seen in
many countries, that if students are given with opportunities to achieve higher education free of
cost, the chances of innovation and progress increase manifold. The country, as a result benefits
as it fosters better environment to develop faster in the globalized space. Therefore, government
should aid and invest in education, which is the foundation for progress and development, which
will offer great opportunities to students rather than getting dissuaded by the system.
Higher education is often the reason which causes students to have high debts right after
competing their education, or having to opt out from the same, because the financial burden is
too hard to carry out. Therefore, if the courses are made free of cost, the students will be
encouraged to make progress without having to think about the crises which they might face if

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they choose to pursue higher education, of which, the course fees are extremely high. The
passing rates of students will also, as a result go up. Students coming from low income families
and having lesser privileges will have opportunities and access to education (Altbach, Reisberg
and Rumbley). It should not be the case that the students from low income families are exempted
from the education system because of their financial capabilities, which will continue to restrict
them to their condition, rather than making progress in life.
Furthermore, the government should be responsible for allowing citizens to have free and
fair access to education (Smith). Education should be considered as a priority as students should
be interested and desire learning as the process for growth. Therefore, if there are students who
are interested to learn, opportunities should be created for them, by offering them opportunity of
obtaining a college or university degree, which increases their potentiality, by offering them
scholarship or funding (Altbach, Reisberg and Rumbley). Free education and opportunity to
learn does not only benefit the individual being part of the program but also the society as a
whole. Education is a force, which can pull and enhance community standards (Baum, Ma and
Payea). Students, who are allowed to achieve higher degrees, will enable them to contribute to
the society and affect other lives positively. By and large the country will be benefited in many
ways, as education will allow the country to make progress on a larger scale.
Moreover, Education is the key to success and help in the process of understanding the
real world better. Education will allow families to break away from the social stratification they
are restricted to (Simon). Education will make society a better place for people belonging to the
lesser privileged classes, who dream to achieve better things in life, but cannot execute the same,
due to dearth of resources and amenities. Free education, at the college and university level will
be very enabling for those students who possess talents but lack the resources to afford education

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at the higher levels, as they are expensive and come at the cost of great compromises to be made
by them as well as the family (Simon). Loans and fees are very burdensome for them to even
think of in the first place, when earning daily bread is a challenge in itself (Joseph Mbembe). The
government should ascertain that they do not have to pay back havoc amounts to achieve
education in order to become competent in the real world.
In addition, education should be promoted by the government to go to college and earn
high education which will help them emerge as better citizens to the country (Smith). Every
citizen has the right to education and grow a worldview and perspective which enable them to
become better versions of themselves. Citizens should thus be encouraged to enhance their
experiences through learning and not get crushed under the burden of debts as one gets colonized
by bigger forces (Joseph Mbembe). Thus, education should not be unaffordable for human
beings which stress students and their families to consider a better future of their own.
Government should aim to establish public universities and offer scholarships which encourage
students to take up higher education despite their own hardships. It is important to build new
roads, which will help economy be boosted through contribution of everyone, if they are
equipped with free education programs (Baum, Ma and Payea).
It can thus be concluded by saying that people carry out great burdens in life but
education should not be one of the factors which pulls one down to become competent in the
increasingly competitive world. Free education in colleges and universities should be offered
which will enable students to become better citizens and assets to the country and contribute to
the development. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure equal opportunity and
means to education, to enable the lesser privileged people to break away from the shackles of
social stratification.

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References
Altbach, Philip G., Liz Reisberg, and Laura E. Rumbley. Trends in global higher education:
Tracking an academic revolution. Brill, 2019.
Baum, Sandy, Jennifer Ma, and Kathleen Payea. "Education pays 2013." The College
Board (2013).
Gutmann, Amy, and Sigal Ben‐Porath. "Democratic education." The encyclopedia of political
thought (2014): 863-875.
Hersh, Richard H., and John Merrow. Declining by degrees: Higher education at risk. St.
Martin's Press, 2015.
Joseph Mbembe, Achille. "Decolonizing the university: New directions." Arts and Humanities in
Higher Education 15.1 (2016): 29-45.
Marginson, Simon. "The worldwide trend to high participation higher education: Dynamics of
social stratification in inclusive systems." Higher Education 72.4 (2016): 413-434.
Selingo, Jeffrey J. College (un) bound: The future of higher education and what it means for
students. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
Smith, Daryl G. Diversity's promise for higher education: Making it work. JHU Press, 2015.
Van Hoof, Hubert B., et al. "Ecuador’s higher education system in times of change." Journal of
Hispanic Higher Education 12.4 (2013): 345-355.