From kindergarten to high school, our education is usually uncostly and compensated by the taxes our parents pay. Then we enter college, and realize how much we took that for granted. The cost of college tuition has risen into a national crisis. Students trying to pay for their education end up with a life sentence of debt.  According to the Institute for College Access & Success, 70% of New Jersey has an average debt of $28,109 and the average student loan debt for the country is peaking at about $30,000 and still rising. Although financial aid is available and helpful, many students do not qualify to get enough money to cover expenses. Due to this issue, students are forced to drop out or not attend college at all. People with higher education are considered assets to the country itself therefore our government should impose a new repayment plan for students.

 

Literature Review

"Solving the College Tuition Problem is Easy" 

In this article I read, the author, Jay Rosenstein, reviewed a similar issue. He believes that the solution is very simple and should be set in motion ASAP. The author is a professor at the University of Illinois, where the base tuition can be lowered by 25 percent for in-state juniors and seniors. He believe this can be possible for all schools but there's a catch. This solution can only work for college's who hold a Division 1 football team. 

This year NCAA is receiving $7 billion from ESPN in order to broadcast the college football playoffs. Rosenstin did some research and found that even if the teams don't make it to the play offs or even win games, they'll receive the money. Basically all Divsion 1 teams will receive a portion of the money regardless of anything. He found that the 14 schools associated in the Big Ten Conference will receive a payment of $28 million to $50 million annually from the NCAA. Using this extra cash universities and colleges can lower and cut student tuition. 

I see some flaws in this "solution". First off this proposal is limited to a designated group of ppl. This could only benefit people who go to a school with a Division 1 football team. I, for one, go to NJIT which doesn't even have a football team. So this solution would not benefit me at all. Rosenstein is also proposing this 25 percent lowered base tuition to all schools but this is going to be available only to in-state juniors and seniors. So basically once again only a specified group of people can benefit from this. I also don't know if this money will will be distributed to students at all. This money will be given to the athletics department of schools. I'm not sure if the departments are willing to give that money up freely to student body.

I believe there is a resolution to this issue of expensive college tuition that will benefit majority of students. I think having a lowered tuition should be equally shared rather than it being a privilege of senority. To be fair Rosenstein did state that this wasn't the best and efficient way to lower tuition costs. His idea can possible work but I am sure there is a better proposal at hand. Like the article states this solution is "easy". Technically it can be that simple but to efficiently help every student I believe some hard work should be put in.

 

Methodology

My solution to the issue of expensive college tuition is redirecting where our tax dollars are going. Therefore my methodology would be to do some extensive research about our federal government and taxes in order to understand whether or not our taxes are being used appropriately. In my research, I am trying to find if there is a substantial amount of money that isn't being put to use efficiently. 

One place I believe taxes are being used unfairly is due to illegal immigrants. Lately the United States population of illegal immigrants have increased tremendously. While doing research I came across the Federation for American Immigration Reform which is a non-profit organization suited for the public's best interest. While reading through the website I found an article titled "The Costs of Illegal Immigration to New Jersyites (2007)", which was very informative to understanding how we, as taxpayers, are spending for illegal immigrants. I also came across similar articles for other states including New York, Illinois, Colorado, Iowa, and more. Because I am from New Jersey I decided to read about the "New Jerseyites", which read that taxpayers are forced to spend approximately $2.1 billion yearly for education, medical care, and incarceration. This is for the rough estimate of 372,000 illegal aliens that reside in New Jersey. Reading through other states' over taxing, it came to similar if not greater number of dollars that was being used to help these illegal immgrants. 

So basically, we are already being taxed for these government services therefore we as citizens will not be paying anything else to support this solution. These are our tax dollars and it should be used to benefit us. As for the illegal immigrants, as blunt and harsh as it may be we should continue to enforce the law and send them back when found. If the money that is currently used for them is directed towards the citizens of the country, the illegal immigrants will have no choice but to leave as well. In all, I do not believe there are any cons to this solutions. Thus, my next task is to figure out how to get the voice out to the government about this possible resolution.