Dear Colleges,

Have you ever thought about how many young people dream of going to college, but never even try because of the price? College is supposed to be a place where we learn, grow and prepare for our future. But for so many students, it feels more like a dream that’s out of reach. Tuition costs are a lot, textbooks are ridiculously expensive and even just living on campus can drain a family’s savings. While it’s true that financial difficulties are not the only reason students drop out of college, it is the main reason.

It’s hard to focus on learning when you’re worried about loans, interest rates and whether you’ll be able to pay for the next semester. Some students are so scared of debt that they give up on college entirely. Even if they’re smart, talented and hardworking, college often doesn’t feel like a possibility. That’s not fair. Education should be about opportunity, not about how much money your family has.

There are even a lot of kids who don’t earn scholarships who would love to attend college, but have no financial aid. According to the College Board, the average annual tuition and fees at public, four-year colleges in the U.S. rose from about $3,190 in 1990 to over $10,000 in 2020 (inflation not included). And that is on top of already inflated costs. A survey by the National Center for Education Statistics found that about two in five college students report that cost is the main reason they considered not going to college.

We need to rethink the system. College should be affordable for everyone, without expensive loans. Scholarships, grants, and government support can help, but we need a bigger, more stable solution, a future where every student can pursue their dreams without fear of lifelong debt. Many students take 10 – 20 years to fully pay off their student loans, depending on the amount borrowed and the interest rates, which can prevent young adults from buying houses and starting families.

It’s time to ask ourselves: should money decide who gets an education? I say no. And I hope you say no also. We can work towards a future where college is for learning, not for building wealthy college institutions. I hope the reader will take my letter as a change to get others to write the same, and maybe we could actually change something. I might not even give colleges a cent because if it’s too expensive, I am just not going to go.

Sincerely,
Keviona Robison