Free Tuition For New York State

Free Tuition For New York State

May 22nd, 2017 by Stephanie Brown

For many people, a higher education is a privilege and a reality. However, the high costs prevent many students from this opportunity or leave them with a life long list of payments. There are also students who change their mind multiple times before they finally decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. These people accumulate a much higher level of debt than the ones that go to college for the minimum time needed.
For the average middle class family, college is closer to a dream than it is a reality. The whole experience is just too much of a burden for the student and their parents to take on. However, the governor of New York has decided to pass a bill that will enable these middle class families to receive free tuition at any of the state universities. Similar to other financial aid programs like FASFA, families must apply and provide personal information such as taxes and tax refunds. After receiving the statement letter, the student must abide by the set stipulations and guidelines. This includes staying in New York the same number of years the student uses the program. For example, if I receive free tuition for three years, I must live in New York for three years after graduating from college. This is to make sure the taxpayer money is being put back into the New York economy. As a whole, Governor Andrew Cuomo hopes this will encourage local economic growth.
Although, when the term free is used it actually does not mean free. New York was given a budget that is coming from the taxpayers pockets. So in reality it is not free, just the bills are being handed to someone else. This is also a program that caters to the kids that are not willing to truly put in the time and effort. Many go to college to have fun and enjoy the prime of their youth. It is not a bad thing to enjoy life, but when it comes to a $30,000 fee, the commitment to education should be a priority. Free tuition allows more students to attend college, which lowers the value of a higher education. If anyone can attend a university, the value of a diploma decreases because anyone can get the degree. A higher education should be for the people willing to put in the time and effort to become a better person and for them to succeed in life. Higher education is a privilege not a right; just like many other things in the world.
Ultimately there are both benefits and losses when it comes to the new program. Should the taxpayers have to take the fall for the next generation? How will this affect our community? Only time will tell how the bill will affect the economy and the intelligence of the surrounding community. With everything happening in the world today there may not need to be people with PhD doctorate degrees, but for now this is the way things are. People should take advantage of the resources being handed to them and put them towards making the world a better place.

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