Receiving a college degree has long been regarded as the sure-shot way to realize the American dream. However, that dream is diminishing as working class families fall deeper into shock while trying to pay the ever-increasing tuition. I have come across several education articles and blogs which talk about the need to introduce 3 year college in USA. I must say that the notion is quite attractive and a possible solution to the problem of ballooning student debt. We all know how much expensive it can be when paying tuition fees, boarding expenses, textbooks, etc for straight eight semesters. By the time you are have a college education you are in debts. Now certain schools are planning to introduce and some colleges have started three year bachelor degree courses.
Some may say that schools can compress their four year degree programs into three years. However, that is not a good idea as most of the college students these days require six years to complete a bachelor degree. So, we need a better approach- like revamping the curriculum; reducing the number of electives, shifting to shorter semesters, etc. This is exactly what a few colleges are doing.
The Grace College and Seminary, Baldwin-Wallace College, St. John’s University and Lesley University introduced three-year programs.
At Grace College both the calendar and the curriculum have been revamped to accommodate three-year graduation programs. The students are required to take more, small courses during the semesters of spring and fall. Any credits in the summer are free.
As per the school accounting a student will save up to 50% on college this way. On average, savings will amount to $8,893 for in-state four year public schools students and $30,094 reduction for the ones enrolled in private institutes. Also, students who require financial aid will be spared of a whole year of study loans. In this way the students can enter graduate school sooner instead of entering job market.
Slashing tuition by a quarter means the amount of money students borrow gets reduced. Almost 70% of the people with bachelor degree have student loans with average debt of $29,400.
Those who are skeptical about this should look closer. Several nations follow this system; three-year degree is deemed well enough for institutions like Cambridge and Oxford. Reducing the term to three year not only cuts down the costs but it also can dramatically raise the current low completion rate in colleges in USA. It will not affect the quality of education in any way as some may fear. Our economy has increasing demand of college grads and we need to ensure that we do everything to meet this demand.
This approach will put more pressure on the colleges in USA to control their ballooning tuition fees. It is high time we give our students some break and allow then to pursue their dreams of higher education.
Some may say that schools can compress their four year degree programs into three years. However, that is not a good idea as most of the college students these days require six years to complete a bachelor degree. So, we need a better approach- like revamping the curriculum; reducing the number of electives, shifting to shorter semesters, etc. This is exactly what a few colleges are doing.
The Grace College and Seminary, Baldwin-Wallace College, St. John’s University and Lesley University introduced three-year programs.
At Grace College both the calendar and the curriculum have been revamped to accommodate three-year graduation programs. The students are required to take more, small courses during the semesters of spring and fall. Any credits in the summer are free.
As per the school accounting a student will save up to 50% on college this way. On average, savings will amount to $8,893 for in-state four year public schools students and $30,094 reduction for the ones enrolled in private institutes. Also, students who require financial aid will be spared of a whole year of study loans. In this way the students can enter graduate school sooner instead of entering job market.
Slashing tuition by a quarter means the amount of money students borrow gets reduced. Almost 70% of the people with bachelor degree have student loans with average debt of $29,400.
Those who are skeptical about this should look closer. Several nations follow this system; three-year degree is deemed well enough for institutions like Cambridge and Oxford. Reducing the term to three year not only cuts down the costs but it also can dramatically raise the current low completion rate in colleges in USA. It will not affect the quality of education in any way as some may fear. Our economy has increasing demand of college grads and we need to ensure that we do everything to meet this demand.
This approach will put more pressure on the colleges in USA to control their ballooning tuition fees. It is high time we give our students some break and allow then to pursue their dreams of higher education.
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