In finalizing my applications to numerous colleges throughout Florida, I have begun to encounter and consider just how significant the cost of a university education can be upon prospective students and their families. With governments cutting funding for state universities, tuition fees are skyrocketing. Parents and students now have to worry about thousands of dollars a year in tuition, and for a majority of the incoming class, that means debt. What’s more, during these pressing economic times, the lagging job market has many wondering if they really can afford to attend college.  Knowing that many Americans dread the large and rising costs of education, it becomes increasingly important to continue funding state and local scholarship programs, such as the Bright Futures Scholarships and the Broward League of Cities Scholarship for Government Studies, which offer relief from the otherwise potentially unbearable financial pressures of postsecondary education.

In addition, granting every American student the ability to go to college, the societal return on an investment in education positively influences virtually every aspect of our society: politically, socially, and otherwise.  And thus, the benefits of funding higher education on our society are vast and undeniable, and certainly justify the continued existence of scholarship programs.

A little bit of research, citing specifically a College Board report written by George Washington University Professor Sandy Baum, reveals that college graduates have a tendency to have higher levels of political participation, a fundamental stepping stone of our democracy. They are more active citizens, engaging in more community service and voting more often.   These are the kind of citizens that help to promote the goals of democracy, and certainly are of high value to any community. In addition a college education also helps to teach tolerance and create more understanding mindsets. This helps to eliminate racism, sexism, and a host of other bigotries that undermine the equality this nation was founded upon. Moreover, even from a strictly monetary point of view, it makes sense for governments to continue, if not boost, spending on postsecondary education. College graduates earn about 75 percent more, on average, and therefore add to the financial welfare of the state.  To quote the College Board, “Federal, state, and local governments enjoy increased tax revenues from college graduates and spend less on income support programs for them, providing a direct financial return from investments in postsecondary education.”  For all the aforementioned reasons, I find that a very compelling case for preserving equal opportunity in higher education exists. I simply ask anyone reading this to consider that not only does our society benefit from funding higher education and giving out scholarships, but in the process we also give an opportunity to a person who would have otherwise not had.

By: Alex Weiner