It is right that college graduates earn higher salaries than the less well-educated in the
community. But they should also pay the full cost of their study. Do you agree or disagree
with this statement?
Some conclude that college students should bear total expenses for their higher
learning on the generalization that college graduates usually receive higher salaries
for similar jobs than those without a college degree. We cannot deny that higher
level of education, indeed, does associate with better income. Still, built on such fact
alone, the conclusion remains questionable.
The whole argument in question rests on an assumption that it is always the case
that people with higher education make more money than those less well-educated.
But salary or income is, in most cases, based on contributions made by employees
to companies or organizations in which they work for. Statistics in the labor market
indicate that people with professional training tend to find jobs easier than college
graduates do and that blue-collar workers who do not hold college degrees are
becoming the hotties in the labor market. Employers prefer to hire and pay more to
highly skilled and specially trained people rather than fresh college graduates. In the
auto industry, for instance, skilled technicians make two or three times more than
their college educated counterparts who make the average salaries in other
companies. And it is widely accepted that people’s income is determined more by
talent, hard work, and willingness to take risks than solely by certain qualifications
such as college education. Otherwise, the unemployment rate of college graduates
would not be increasing every year and the rule of supply and demand will lose
much of power in controlling the labor market. Admittedly in some knowledge
extensive field such as research, teaching, and practice of law the labor force are
primarily consists of highly educated professionals. But such people make up only a
fraction of the labor market and are thus unrepresentative of the whole employment
in general.
Considering the goal of education, we find that it is even more problematic for the
country to throw all the responsibility of financing college education to college
students. The goal of higher education of a nation is to improve and strengthen the
general level of intellectual and professional capacity of its labor force, thereby
increasing the competency of the nation in the global economy. As tax payers,
parents all contributes to the education system and country in various ways. It is only
reasonable and necessary that the country gives some forms of financially
assistance to students to ease the burden of rising education costs. Such help
should go not only to students from needy or impoverished families but also to
outstanding students from affluent backgrounds. Doing so can significantly boost the
motivation of children from millions of families to engage in higher level of study. It is
understandable that the general quality of people in a country will improve and its
economy will benefit both now and in years to follow.
If the burden of supporting children’s higher education is dumped on parents and
students, thousands of brilliant students will be deprived of chances to pursue their
academic inspiration. Among those who suffer would definitely be future great
scientists, business managers, artists and statesmen. The loss will be disastrous
and irreversible.
In conclusion, the idea that students should also pay the full cost of their study is
wrong and harmful because it is wrong to assume that higher education necessarily
equalize high income. Moreover, it is in the best interest of a nation to take
responsibility in financing college education so that the goal of higher education will
be better met.