Germany’s Lower Saxony was the last region to permanently remove university tuition fees in the country, says CBS News, making all public universities free for German and international students. According to CBS News, tuition was free until 2006 when public schools began charging tuition. However, criticism ultimately resulted in the country phasing out the unpopular policy. Even before the tuition was cut, semester fees were slightly over $600. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, a Hamburg senator, said the changes to tuition were made because fees were “unjust” and “discourage young people who do not have a traditional academic family background from taking up study.” Stapelfeldt continued, “It is a core task of politics to ensure that young women and men can study with a high-quality standard free of charge in Germany.
” In contrast, the United States has seen education funding from the government decrease since the 2008 recession. According to a report by the U.S. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the average state is spending 23 percent less per student than before the recession. Seven in 10 college students who graduate have a student loan debt, with an average of $29,400 per borrower, according to the Project on Student Debt. With daunting statistics like this, free tuition in Germany has students thinking. “I think it depends on how they manage the college. If you still get the same benefits as a paid-tuition college and if the free education can sustain you for a long period of time, then it’s a good idea,” said Matthew Leung, a junior majoring in exercise and sports science from Hong Kong. “If not, then there’s no point to it,” he added.
Kristina Larsen, a senior majoring in psychology in Utah, is doing her senior research project on how a student’s grade point average is affected if they pay their own tuition. She stated, “I feel like students will not do nearly as well if they get their education paid for or for free. Basically, the ones that pay and work harder will be the ones achieving great jobs and careers.”
Harris Leafa, a senior majoring in graphic design from Samoa, said, “Even though college is in free in Germany, I would still rather pay the price for the housing and superb education I receive instead of a free tuition that I’m not sure will guarantee me the best education and college experience.”