Who Will Pay for Free 2 & 4 Year Degrees?

Mmmm. Maybe not weird but complicated. The devil is always in the details.

 

To me it's just proof that these "buckets" offer us little practical utility.

There are gainfully employed physicians who command a very nice salary but are buried under private student loan debt they will never pay off (and which limits their discretionary income drastically). And there are plumbers who live comfortably.

By traditional models, the plumber is "working class" while the doctor is likely considered "upper middle class" just by virtue of their educations. Meanwhile, that plumber might be eating steak every night while the doctor is keeping to a tight budget.

These phrases are loaded with implications about what sort of life that person is living. I just don't see how (or why) we can reduce that many variables to such a general term.

 

My husband is a fed. These programs are pretty useless... some WILL pay, but there is a limit as to how much they will give you. They will repay X amount per year up to X amount total. The Department of State will repay student loans in this fashion, but usually only if you agree to work in less desirable/more dangerous countries. My husband was given an opportunity to work in one but turned it down due to the risk and the fact that his loans would not be repaid, anyway.

Some federal jobs boast tuition assistance, but they're all for show. They usually have programs but don't fund them... "but check back next year!" They tell you to go to your office to ask if there are extra funds, but they are usually non-existent. If there ARE extra dollars allocated for employee education, it's usually someone in upper management who is going back to school for their Ph.D. who takes it all. It's totally wrong, but if you squeak, you'll never go anywhere with your career.

 

I could not have said this better myself. Thank you!

 

Why can't we go back to the model our parents enjoyed where people DID pay tuition, but they could afford to pay out-of-pocket if they saved up their money from their summer jobs?

Also, if we are going to be giving free educations to future students, those of us with loans (both federal AND private) are going to need some help. Is that in the bill? Because I cannot afford to pay for mine AND theirs.

 

Mainly because federal financial aid had the unintended consequence of driving up tuition prices. If schools relied solely on what students could pay (or even reasonably borrow) then prices would likely be lower. But when they can count on a huge chunk of change from Uncle Sam plus whatever they charge the student the result is that tiny colleges with lackluster enrollment start ridiculous building campaigns rather than managing their meager endowments properly to ensure the longterm viability of their institutions.

I don't see how your argument follows. You signed on for those loans. But you feel that if future students get free education that you deserve relief from the debt you willingly took out? I can understand, from an emotional standpoint, where you're coming from. But there's very little logic to it.

My wife paid her loans off completely in a relatively short period of time (an employer benefit). If the government passed some sort of relief for other people who hold debt, should she get a check even though she paid her's off on her own? That would be completely in keeping with your "but where's mine?" approach to educational loans.

If you were able to afford your loans AND a decade long war then affording your loans AND other people's education should pose very little difficulty.

 

One hope I have is that a free tuition system will allow better control of tuition rates...kinda how medicare manages to regulate its payouts. Yes, you don't need to mention that the system isn't perfect and that some take advantage. It's still the most successful medical system we've got.