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Free College
Issue
The cost of college education has dramatically increased over the years at an accelerated rate and has become a serious problem. If nothing is done in order to resolve the issue, higher education may be beyond what an average citizen may be able to afford in this country.
Two-Year Bachelor Degree
One way to reduce the cost of college is to reduce the time that it takes to achieve a Bachelor's degree
to just two years rather than four by eliminating unnecessary coursework.
For example, Calculus may be required for a Bachelor's degree, but how many careers actually require such knowledge to do their job? Not many. Same for Shakespeare, World History, or other subjects that are not specific towards the particular discipline.
Some may say that the extra courses provide an all-around level of education for the student, but that's really just nonsense. Both Master's and Doctorate's degrees are focused along a particular discipline, so why not
do the same for a Bachelor's degree?
Open And Free College
An even better way of solving the cost of higher education is to make college free as a national online program from the Department of Education's website.
Fully accredited programs would be freely available to all with an open-door policy towards admissions (no entrance exam or minimum GPA required). Anyone who wishes to further their education in this country may do so without a hassle.
There are other advantages to having an online accredited program than just cost. For one, the quality of college education would improve since the Education Dept. would offer what is determined to be the best courses available across all learning institutions in the nation. This would ensure that the education offered by the national online program is better than what may be offered by a number of state or local community colleges.
Another advantage is that students' grades would improve since the college experience will be more accommodating to the student's particular lifestyle. With an online program, the study-at-your-own-pace aspect will enable students to work a hectic schedule if they wish, travel, start a family, etc., without sacrificing grades by missing exams or being rushed to fit a course's rigid schedule.
Another advantage is that retention of the material would be improved since the student studies the subject in a more relaxed manner and at their own pace, rather than the typical experience of cramming before an exam (and short-term memory loss).
Another advantage is that the research and development of academic disciplines would improve and become more profitable for the author of the new coursework. The majority of courses in the online program will be free except for newly added courses, which may charge a fee of up to 99 cents until the introductory 5-year period expires. After that, the course becomes free of charge for all students thereafter.
The author who created the new course will receive the fee as reimbursement. So, depending upon how popular the new course is during the introductory 5-year period, the author could be awarded with perhaps millions of dollars from students signing up for the class nationwide, which provides greater incentive for advancing academic fields than current means.
However, a natural consequence of providing a free and online national college program is that other colleges and universities in the country will be unable to compete, and close as a result. Though a campus building or two may survive with the purpose of being converted into a lab if such is necessary.
Regarding the fate of college professors, they may become tutors or move onto other things. If students prefer a classroom atmosphere, professors may be hired to conduct an online chat room where the course is presented on a fixed and regular basis. This will provide students with another option if they wish rather than downloading a video and learning by independent self-study.
Overall, the problem of affording an expensive college education would be a thing in the past if the Dept. of Education offered an online program that is open and free to everyone.
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