College Costs Way Too Much, Emmaus High Student Says

Special to Emmaus Patch by Kelsey Patterson

College; it is a simple yet complex word most teenagers my age think about. Progressing through high school, this word appears in our lives almost every day. When thinking about college, many things pop into a young person’s head. Where will I go to college? What will I major in? How far will I be from home? The most important question a teen can ask themselves in this generation is, “How much will college cost?” College tuition in community colleges alone have risen 40% over the past decade. As for four-year public schools, their rates have gone up by 68%. It should not be outrageously expensive for anyone in the United States to better their knowledge by attending college. College is a privilege, but should not put a person in debt for the rest of their lives.

Over the past years, the United States has been in economic trouble. Currently, student loan debt has risen to one trillion dollars. The U.S. government needs to find ways to help students keep from drowning in debt just because they want to pursue a degree in college. The government has opened their eyes to this issue for quite a while now. While giving his State of the Union Address in 2012, President Obama suggested a plan to help people who attend college, have attended or want to attend, keep costs low. President Obama or any government official has not mentioned improving college aid since the address in 2012. Although the government has become aware of the problems lying in college tuition and debt, they have not done their share to help.

People like New York attorney Robert Applebaum, have taken their time to spread awareness for the rising problem in America. On his website Applebaum writes, “Forgiving student loan debt would have an immediate stimulating effect on the economy. Responsible people who did nothing other than pursue a higher education would have hundreds, if not thousands of extra dollars per month to spend, fueling the economy now.” Websites like these bring up valid points and continue to fight for forgiveness in student loan debt.

Students who have attended college and who are in college currently are not the only ones affected by this problem. The fact people cannot spend money regularly and stimulate the economy is a problem. As Applebaum said, “Forgiving student loan debt would have an immediate stimulating effect on the economy.” Once students graduate, they are head to toe in debt that they cannot pay off easily. In fact, The Center for College Affordability and Productivity states, ''about 48 percent of employed U.S. college graduates are in jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests requires less than a four-year college education.'' The money they spend on their degrees sometimes does not apply in the job they pursue. The rising costs of college tuition is chilling. The future of America’s higher education is a lost sheep. It can only get back to it’s flock, when the shepherds of America bring him home.

Kelsey Patterson is a currently a student in Ms. Bonnie Raub's honors 10th grade English class at Emmaus High School. Patterson wrote this essay as part of a class assignment.