You’re graduating from high school and you’re worried about prom but you should be worried about “ How am I gonna pay off my future tuition.” Top universities need to lower tuition costs because it is leaving many students in debt without knowing if it will pay off.
A reason why college tuition is overpriced is because there is no guaranteed factor that it will pay off in the end. The author Guillite says, “American universities are at a ball-time low, tuition is higher than ever. Student loan debt has reached crisis levels, and many graduates are leaving campus with limited job prospects and crippling loan payments on the horizon”(Guillette). Is it worth it to graduate from a university and still have to worry about the cost? You would think after you graduate, you would be able to start your adult-hood without being held down by “chains” till you pay it off but it is quite the opposite, the degree that you spent countless amount of hours on working to pay it off and even the work you had to do will be spent trying to pay it off in the end.
Continuing, Researcher Guillete Adam states , “American universities are short-changing their students and failing to prepare them for the real world. Rather than shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars for a subpar education and a middling degree, high school students should evaluate alternative options.”(Guillette). Many soon to be graduating students fantasize about the life they have ahead after their unreasonable college expenses but not many realize that you can go to a community college for minimum expenses including books, and classes instead of spending 100k+ a year with all the same necessities and still end up in the position. You’re spending countless amount of hours of work as well as money just to be the one scanning my groceries at the local market
Most people don’t take into account the amount of extras college comes with and that’s because colleges don’t alert them enough. One author states, “Colleges and universities are not transparent about the true cost of tuition and fees and are opaque about how much credit (if any). students can earn before enrolling (which in turn can reduce the cost).. As a result, too many students aren’t getting the college credit they have earned and are being
forced to pay and borrow more than they should.”( Weinstein). Hidden costs are a big factor of students ending up in financial debt. You could be one of the smartest people at your school and think that your scholarships will cover most of your tuition but you would still end up paying a heavy amount with costs that are not usually highlighted, such as dorm room costs as well as transportation. It’s kind of like buying something that says “buy one get one 50% off”, you’re still getting scammed in the end.
The CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees states, “By comparison, tuition and fees averaged $9,410 at four-year public colleges and $32,405 at four-year private non-profit colleges.”( Lee). Why would you rather go and pay for an expensive tuition when you can get the same education for a lower price. In the long run this will be beneficial for a troubling spender, you can spend the left over money on anything that your heart desires including, clothes, self care, or even saving towards a car.
Many people say “You’re going to a community college ….I didn’t think you were that dumb..” the reason why is because students assume that going to a private university will increase their chances of having more opportunities in the future but this is not true, many people don’t realize that going to a community college is the smarter decision – you get the same education for a much more affordable cost.
Works Cited
Adam, Guillette . “Too Radical, Too Expensive: Are University Degrees Still Worth the Cost?” Proquest.com, 2026, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/3244908930?accountid=63828.
Lee, Jang Hang . “The Hidden Costs of Higher Education.” Acct.org, 27 Sept. 2016, perspectives.acct.org/stories/the-hidden-costs-of-higher-education-0.
Weinstein, Paul, et al. HIDDEN PRICES and HIGHER TUITION: THE CASE for TRANSPARENCY in HIGHER EDUCATION PRICING and ADVANCED CREDIT Hidden Prices and Higher Tuition: The Case for Transparency in Higher Education Pricing and Advanced Credit HIDDEN PRICES and HIGHER TUITION: THE CASE for TRANSPARENCY in HIGHER EDUCATION PRICING and ADVANCED CREDIT P2 Hidden Prices and Higher Tuition:The Case for Transparency in Higher Education Pricing and Advanced Credit. 2021.
