When looking ahead to college, debt is often something that crosses the mind of a high-schooler. While scholarships and other opportunities open many doors for high school students, New Mexico is now ensuring that students have a paid four-year education after high school.
With New Mexico now guaranteeing four years of paid education after high school for all students, questions everywhere are being raised about whether free college is something that should be available to all students. Though some states cannot afford free college, students should be granted free college as often as a state can grant it.
New Mexico has been “one of the poorest states in the country,” according to an article on The New York Times. However, the state is finding ways to make sure that its students are being provided for by planning “to use climbing revenues from oil production to pay for much of the costs.”
When asked about free college and whether it would be beneficial for students as well as states, an anonymous senior responded that “free college is a bad idea.” Knowing this student is planning on attending college, this interview brought about many surprises. Was debt a non-issue for this student? “No,” he said, “I still worry about spending too much at college. But free college is going to cost someone money, even if it is not the students.”
However, multiple other students had different viewpoints. “I think free college would help a lot of people who would not go to college after high school normally,” said senior Katie Gropel. “I would love to attend college for free.”
Free college could also be a large help to parents of students attending a 2 or 4 year university. Parents account for 34% of the total cost of college, and with this number dropping to zero in New Mexico once legislation for free college is passed many families will save thousands of dollars.
Additionally, without the pressure of failing college and wasting money, it is likely that with free college the rate of enrollment at colleges will increase. Though increased enrollment does not directly guarantee a higher amount of college graduates, it is the first step in a long process to increasing high-school post-graduate success in the United States.
