Why College Should Be Free for Everyone

In the United States alone, students owe a staggering $1.77 trillion in student loans, with the amount ballooning from $480.9 billion in 2006. An average American owes over $38,000 in student loans.

The perspective of incurring this debt is becoming the biggest barrier to education for would-be applicants. On top of that, the prohibitive college costs leave graduates wondering whether higher education is a good investment. Spoiler alert: Those with debt are more likely to say that their degree wasn’t worth it.

The ballooning college costs, stagnating wages, and crippling debt brought one question back into the spotlight: Should college be free? The DoMyEssay experts decided to investigate the pros and cons of the idea.

College Costs Are Through the Roof

When adjusted for inflation, tuition fees in the U.S. have risen substantially since 2006, increasing by:

• 32% for private national universities
• 29% for in-state students at public national universities
• 24% for out-of-state students at public national universities

The figures are more bleak if we compare contemporary costs with fees charged in 1980. Even when adjusted for inflation, the cost of attending a four-year college full-time jumped by 180%. In other words, it almost tripled.

There is some good news, however. In recent years, tuition fees actually decreased. For example, in-state tuition fees at public universities declined by 11% between 2019/20 and 2024/25. Out-of-state tuition at public universities and private tuition fees also decreased by 13% and 7% between 2020/21 and 2023/24.

That said, high college costs remain an issue. In today’s job market, a college degree is a must for securing higher earnings. So, more and more students turn to loans to obtain one. (Even though Pell Grants remain an option, their coverage dropped from 79% of college costs in 1979 to 30% in 2021.)

Student debt curbs spending, becomes a barrier to home ownership, and undermines net worth. 

Furthermore, high college costs are a barrier to access, and disparities in enrollment based on income levels are glaringly obvious.

Making college free would democratize access to higher education, which translates into higher income and lower unemployment. It would also boost the economy as graduates wouldn’t be held down by debt in their spending and investment.

Why Free College Is Worth It: 5 Pros

What makes free college a good idea? Let’s explore the five main arguments in its support:

• Democratizing access to higher education. Only 12% of low-income students earn a degree by the age of 25, as opposed to 70% of their high-income counterparts. For an average student, only a third of public institutions that award bachelor’s degrees are affordable. Making college free would remove this barrier to access, allowing lower-income students to benefit from upward social mobility.
• Curbing the student debt crisis. Roughly half of all students have to turn to loans to finance their studies today. Dedicating anywhere between 10% and 20% of discretionary income forces individuals to postpone acquiring property, spending, and investing. While making college free wouldn’t make the student debt crisis magically go away, it would curb its spread.
• Boosting the economy. Earning a higher income thanks to a degree is good not just for the individual but for the economy, as well. More people with disposable income unburdened by student debt means higher consumer spending, tax revenue, and investment. There’s a historical precedent for it: investing in free studies for military veterans under the G.I. Bill of 1944 led to a return of $6.90 per dollar spent!
• Transforming society. Increasing the number of college graduates isn’t just about higher consumer spending and tax revenue. Bachelor’s degree holders are five times less likely to be imprisoned and 3.5 times less likely to live in poverty than high school graduates. College graduates also tend to exhibit higher rates of civic participation, including voting, volunteering, and charitable giving. Plus, a more skilled workforce can drive innovation and technological advancement.
• Enhancing the country’s economic standing in the international arena. Lower poverty rates, increased civic participation, higher consumer spending and revenue, and improved ability to innovate would all bolster the country’s standing in the global economy. Global competitiveness, in turn, helps attract investment, create jobs, and improve the standards of living.

4 Cons of Making College Free

While the case for making college free is strong, the idea isn’t without potential downsides:

• The money has to come from somewhere. College tuition is used to fund real expenditures that make education possible in the first place. So, removing tuition fees requires moving the financial burden from students to states and/or the federal government. How much it would cost is unclear; Bernie Sanders’ plan, for example, was estimated to cost $47 billion. The need for funding could drive up tax rates for everyone.
• Removing tuition fees won’t make education truly free. The total cost of college extends far beyond tuition, as students must also budget for expenses like books, housing, food, and transportation. For public four-year in-state college costs, tuition fees account for only $11,610 out of the total $29,910. Housing and food would cost more ($13,310), with books and supplies adding $1,290 to the total.
• It risks attracting students who would drop out. Opponents of abolishing tuition fees cite the idea that not everyone needs a degree or is cut out for pursuing one. So, they may spend taxpayer money to study only to drop out, therefore wasting public money. One case cited points to low completion rates in California’s community colleges (under 10%).
• It could bring down the quality of education. A rapid influx of students into colleges risks straining existing resources since their capacity won’t change overnight. That is, unless institutions and governments invest in additional infrastructure, staff, and capabilities to support larger student bodies.

3 U.S. Colleges as Case Studies for Free Tuition

Multiple U.S. colleges already offer free tuition. For example:

• Berea College (KY) charges $0 in tuition and provides financing for housing, food, and other fees within the FAFSA limits.
• College of the Ozarks (MO) provides free tuition in exchange for 15 hours a week of on-campus work and two 40-hour work weeks per academic year.
• Cooper Union (NY) made tuition free for all graduating seniors in 2024, with half of its student body already attending the college for free.

Military academies, like West Point and the Naval Academy, are also free to attend. However, in return, they require students to serve a certain number of years in the corresponding branch of the military.

Several U.S. states also put in place programs that foster student success among applicants who would otherwise be unable to afford higher education:

• Tennessee Promise. Administered by a nonprofit corporation created by the state, TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship and mentoring program. It covers all tuition and fees that aren’t funded by other financing options for students who contribute 16 hours of community service a year.
• New York Excelsior Scholarship. Thanks to this scholarship, students from families earning $125,000 or less a year can attend any state public university or college for free.

Countries that Have Already Made Tuition Free

Once you start looking for examples of countries with free college tuition, you’ll be surprised at how many have decided to invest in making education accessible. Here are just 17 of such countries:

As you can see, multiple developed nations offer free higher education to their citizens. Unlike the U.S., those countries cover tuition costs using public funds (i.e., taxpayer money). That said, even in those countries, only state universities and colleges offer free tuition. Private institutions can charge tuition and fees as they see fit.

As a result, students in countries with free higher education don’t have to incur debt to afford tuition, but they may still need to turn to a loan to cover other college costs. In Sweden, for example, 80% of college graduates accumulate debt, mostly due to high living expenses that need financing. That said, only 3.8% of an average Swede’s income goes toward repaying loans, as opposed to 15% for Americans.

So, making tuition free may not eliminate student debt altogether, but it would foster more equitable access to higher education regardless. That comes with societal benefits like upward social mobility. In Sweden, for example, the absolute upward mobility rate stands at 77%. The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, is among the lowest in the world (31.6).

Why College Should Be Free: Your Snapshot

Let’s recap the key reasons why college should be free in the U.S.:

• It removes one of the most substantial barriers to access (and a common source of stress).
• Reducing the need for loans can also help curb the student debt crisis.
• A higher proportion of graduates facilitates upward social mobility, reduces poverty, and improves civic participation.
• A more skilled workforce with higher income and less debt means higher potential for innovation, more consumer spending, and higher tax revenue.

Yes, free college isn’t free; its funding has to come from somewhere. Yet, it’s not a giveaway, either. It’s an investment in the future of a nation.

What Opponents May Say (& How to Respond)

Opponents of the idea always have several counterarguments up their sleeve to undermine the supporters’ claims. Let’s list the three most common counterarguments you may encounter, as well as how to rebut them.

1. “Making College Free Would Be Too Expensive”

The United States already spends 2.5% of its GDPR on postsecondary education, one of the highest among OECD countries. It stands to reason that college costs are already indirectly supported by the government in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans. Making college free would simply redirect those funds to covering expenses directly, improving resource allocation as a result.

2. “College Education Isn’t a Must for Everyone”

Even countries with free postsecondary education don’t attain 100% enrollment or graduation rates. Some still choose to pursue vocational training, for example. However, a higher proportion of graduates with postsecondary degrees benefits society at large via:

• Higher upward social mobility
• Increased civic participation
• More skilled workforce
• Lower income inequality

3. “Quality of Education Will Suffer”

It doesn’t have to. As it stands now, the U.S. postsecondary schools must adhere to specific standards and requirements to receive federal financial assistance. The same accreditation standards can be enforced for schools that want to receive government subsidies used to make tuition free.

How to Approach This Topic If You’re a Student

Ended up reading this blog post because you have to write an argumentative essay on the topic or discuss it in an upcoming debate? Here are our experts’ tips for using the arguments laid out above:

• Provide examples. Other countries make for a good ‘case in point’ evidence to support your claims. Consider researching examples of tuition-free colleges and state programs in the U.S., too. However, make sure the examples you present are relevant to the point you’re trying to make.
• Back up your arguments with evidence. Find precise studies and statistical evidence to support your claims. For example, if you focus on increased upward social mobility, cite specific research on the matter.
• Avoid being one-sided. Address your opponents’ arguments as they come if you’re debating the topic, or address potential counterarguments if you’re writing about it. Explore both the potential benefits and downsides of the idea, too.

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Final Thoughts

Making college free isn’t just about making it more accessible for everyone. A more educated populace, free from the weight of student debt, allows both society and the economy to thrive.

Yes, making college free isn’t free itself. But it’s an investment, and history has demonstrated that the return on it can make it worthwhile.

That’s why decision-makers, from state governments and federal agencies to postsecondary schools themselves, should consider making tuition free. However, only time will tell whether there will be enough political will to make free college a reality.

Need help exploring the pros and cons of making college free? Our college essay writing service can lend you a hand and craft an argumentative essay, speech, or presentation with thorough research and solid logical reasoning!