On the High Cost of Higher Education
 

45 years ago, I put myself through school without incurring a penny of debt or any other obligation. The mathematics is straight forward. At the excellent State-run University I attended, tuition and fees were around $50 per quarter, $150 per year. Minimum wage was $1.60/hr. Working 3 weeks at minimum wage paid my tuition and fees with money to spare; and, unlike today, minimum wage then was a living wage.

Why can't society give this generation the same educational benefits that my generation received? Because the money all goes to pay for unnecessary wars and to enrich those who already have more than they can possibly spend. We pay almost as much for our military as the rest of the world combined. Many of our wealthiest corporations pay no tax at all.

Don't let those who have benefited from virtually free education tell you that you must go into debt to receive your education.

                Tom Sager,
                Emeritus professor, Missouri S&T
                http://tomsager.org

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