The Government Should Provide College Tuition For Low-Income Students

The government should provide college tuition for students who meet the financial and academic standards. Not only will these decrease the income inequality that is becoming more prevalent in America, they will also encourage students to pursue higher education and ultimately create a more educated population. 

White citizens make up 42% of the undergraduate population. This means out of all the college students nationwide, only 58% are racially diverse. Furthermore, white citizens are consistently far more likely than any other race to graduate and obtain a degree. Studies and reports have shown that the financial burden faced by many racially diverse students is to blame for this large gap. This financial burden creates a grueling cycle; racially diverse students are unable to obtain a degree, which results in those individuals making consistently less money than their white counterparts and placing their children in similar situations. This is why the government must help provide a college education to low-income students.

Few instances have proven that government-funded tuition would help solve the racial wage gap. One plan was drafted by Obama during his presidency that would mimic that of the state of Tennessee. This plan has allowed students to attend community college for free. Tennessee alone has observed the positive consequences of this plan, including an increased number of students who pursue a college education and an increased number of African-American and Hispanic students who can attend college.

Another success story of government-funded college tuition is Chile’s gratitude law. Direct quotes from families who have relied on government funding to send their children to college show the opportunities a law like this would create in America. Chile’s funding is directed towards low-income students as providing funding for everyone would create astronomical costs.

Another benefit of aiding low-income students with the finances of college tuition as it encourages students to obtain higher education and creates a better-educated society. A study conducted by the College Board shows that higher levels of education directly relate to lower levels of unemployment and poverty, decrease the need for social support programs, and increase the number of taxpayers. So essentially, by increasing the number of students obtaining college degrees, the government is funneling the money it spent on aid back in. 

It is truly unfortunate the number of kids who cannot pursue a higher education merely because of the cost of tuition. However, plans such as Chile’s and Obama’s show how beneficial government funding for college tuition can be for students who could never dream of a college education. By implementing a law like this, we could effectively decrease the income inequality issue, as it would aid low-income students to achieve their full potential. 

Davis, Julie Hirschfeld, and Tamar Lewin. Obama Plan Would Help Many Go to Community College Free . The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2015,


“What The U.S. Can Learn From Free College In Chile.” All Things Considered (NPR), Nov. 2019. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=0e6c5f1a-5901-3af9-848d-e9d69a80c552.

What is High School Like in 2023?

Being a student in high school in 2023 means that teenagers are involved in politics now more than ever before. Reports have indicated that political engagement by American high schoolers has surged to a historical high. Laws regarding education and more topics that impact young Americans are being established by adults who won’t face the direct impacts of such changes. Gender identity, banned books, gun restrictions, and climate change, are all topics that are front and center of headlines, but all of these affect the kids of our generation more than anyone else

Iowa High Schoolers Learning to Register to Vote, Captured by Radio Iowa

The impact of politics on high school education is significant. Students have been increasingly engaging in political discussions due to increasing political changes. Education is inherently political. However, because there are so many changes regarding curriculum in high school, for example, book bans and lesson restrictions, students are more likely to be involved in discussions regarding the political climate for it affects them greatly. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Students engaging in educational conversations with each other is important, and politics often correlates to topics students learn about in history and English, such as political processes, the history of how certain rules and regulations came about, and even the society that impacted the writing in many of the classics part of the high school curriculum. The disadvantage of these changes is the restrictions they place within classrooms. Avoiding controversial topics inhibits learning, and creates an uncivil school environment, for it creates uneasy relationships between, teachers, parents, and students.

Students Protesting Book Bans, Captured by National Education Association
Politics have not merely caused poor relationships, but social division. Teachers surveyed in a study conducted by UCLA stated they struggle to create a safe environment for all students due to political tensions, especially regarding LGBTQ rights, immigration, and health care. Furthermore, additional research conducted by the New York Times asked various high schoolers of different backgrounds their opinions on politics and how they have changed over the last four years. It was found there were major differences between the opinions of students based on gender and race. For example, when asked, white males stated they felt the government represented them and had their best interests in mind. However, when female students of color were asked the same question, almost all felt the direct opposite. This division among students risks creating an unsafe environment in schools. Hostility, due to politics, among students has increased dramatically in the past decade, most notably in districts where there are many Republicans and Democrats alike. Most of these conflicts are regarding the rights of LGBTQ students and racism. When asked about such conflicts, principals across America have stated that a large portion is between students with differing political opinions. 
Opinion Piece by Haley Pathmaprakashan