Call to Action: Affordable Higher Education

College is expensive. This is a fact that we all know to be true, but it’s hard to fully grasp until we begin paying off student loans. Even then, we see debt as an individual concern when in reality, it is so much bigger than we can even imagine.

In a recent  New York Times analysis, a senior director at the Center for American Progress laid out the current scope of student debt in America. According to recent data from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, total outstanding student loan debt hit approximately $1.78 trillion by the end of 2024.

The average student loan borrower now graduates with approximately $37,853 in federal debt. The idea of putting oneself in so much debt to earn a degree might seem short-sighted on the surface. It might seem easy to merely forgo college and pursue a vocation—something “blue collar” trade advocates have promoted for some time. While affordable technical training and apprenticeships could alleviate the educational burden for some workers, it is simply not enough.

Going to college used to be an optional path to professional success. Today, it’s imperative. As America’s economy shifts from a manufacturing-based system to a knowledge-based one, demand for college-educated professionals increases. This is true even in difficult economic times.

According to a report from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, more than 95 percent of jobs created during the period following the recession went to college-educated workers. In other words, out of 11.6 million new jobs, 11.5 million required at least some college-level education.

Not only are tomorrow’s workers affected by the change, but so is the economy. Higher education means higher earnings and employment rates, which, in turn, produce more tax revenue. Higher earnings would also theoretically mean more disposable income, which translates to more consumer spending, further stimulating local markets. “Theoretically” is the operative word here, which brings us back to the matter at hand: American graduates are spending their salaries on student debt instead of on houses, cars, and other investments.

What is a country to do? The following looks at how other countries handle education costs and how the United States differs. We will also explore some of the common-sense measures states and colleges could adopt now to alleviate the burden.

Anyone familiar with Nordic social models already knows these countries offer impressive benefits, from generous parental leave and universal healthcare to tuition-free college. Denmark, Norway, and Finland are not the only nations to make college free—or at the very least more manageable. Here is how a few other countries manage higher education costs:

• Germany – Germany remains one of the most affordable options for international students. Regardless of nationality, the vast majority of public universities in Germany charge no tuition fees for undergraduate as well as for most master’s programs. However, students do pay a semester fee, typically around €100 to €350, that often includes student services and public transit. Notably, there are exceptions. Since 2017, the state of Baden-Württemberg has required non‑EU/EEA students to pay around €1,500 per semester. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) also charges a certain amount per semester for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while other Bavarian universities may follow suit.
• Czech Republic – College students in the Czech Republic can go to public universities for free. Unlike Germany, this courtesy does not extend to international students, and beneficiaries must study in the local language. The nation also begins charging students if they stay in college more than a year beyond the standard term of study expected for their degrees.
• Estonia – Public universities in Estonia remain tuition-free for full-time students studying in Estonian. Additionally, students can also access state-backed study loans, capped at €3,000 per academic year. The state also guarantees study loan repayment during periods like parental leave or military service.
• France – At public universities in France, students do pay tuition, but the cost is very low compared to several other countries. For the 2024–2025 academic year, European students pay around €175 per year for a bachelor’s degree and €250 for a master’s degree. Non-European students pay more, around €2,850 for a bachelor’s and €3,879 for a master’s, but these amounts are still much lower than what students pay in countries like the U.S.
• Iceland – Public universities in Iceland, including the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri are tuition-free for all students, including internationals. However, students must pay an annual registration fee of around ISK 75,000, roughly $520, to cover administrative costs. Full-time students can also access government-backed loans to help with living expenses.

Many Americans are skeptical of the notion that the U.S. could realistically adopt the kind of low- or no-cost college system typical of many of our allies due to the country’s size and complex infrastructure. These concerns are not without merit. European nations can more easily manage higher education costs because they produce fewer college graduates, both in straightforward enrollments and according to the share of their population. European countries also typically have much higher taxes than the United States, and can, therefore, afford to fund more social programs.

Making higher education free in the U.S. would be a major undertaking, assuming the concept could make it through the political battlefield. That does not mean we cannot address the problem at the state level. For example, New York launched the Excelsior Scholarship, a program that makes tuition free at SUNY and CUNY schools for students whose families earn $125,000 or less. Florida and Texas have also dabbled with low-cost bachelor’s degrees in high-demand disciplines. These efforts prove that we can address staggering college costs and minimize their consequences.

Overhauling higher education finance would be difficult and time-consuming at best, and impossible at worst. The issue is not new, however, and experts have proposed several ways to make college more affordable with minimal political upheaval. Among them:

• Support the 20 percent rule – The 20 percent rule is pretty straightforward: Pell grant recipients must account for at least 20 percent of new enrollments at any colleges receiving public funds. According to a Center on Education and the Workforce report, the nation’s more selective colleges are the least likely to admit these students despite budget surpluses and research suggesting that Pell grantees thrive in these environments.
• Recognize experiential learning – A 2024 report from the ACE (American Council on Education) and the CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) found that credit-for-prior-learning policies such as recognizing military training, professional certifications, or work experience can help boost graduation rates, save students money, and shorten degree completion times. For example, awarding such credit increases degree completion rates by up to 17 percent, particularly benefiting adult learners.
• Leverage educational technology – Small, intimate courses may seem like the gold standard for personalized learning, but they are not necessarily more effective than well-structured large classes—particularly those that use online course technology. The National Center for Academic Transformation redesigned individual courses to reduce instruction and improve educational outcomes. According to NCAT, Arizona State University redesigned a large introductory course by blending online and in-person components. As a result, instructional costs dropped by 59 percent, from $373 to $153 per student, while maintaining or improving learning outcomes.
• Help graduates stay on track – According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, only 64 percent of U.S. undergraduates complete their bachelor’s programs within six years, let alone the standard four. These additional years increase tuition and state funding and resources that supplement students’ educations. High schools can help by providing more career guidance services. Colleges can develop more targeted or “fast-track” degrees and add additional program enrollment oversight.
• Provide additional social guidance and support – Sara Goldrick-Rab, a higher education policy and sociology professor at Temple University, suggests that colleges should do more to support cash-strapped students than to reduce tuition costs. She advises academic institutions to push back against unaffordable housing and add more mixed-income options that focus on value. She also challenges colleges to not only help students apply for financial aid but also for other helpful support resources, like food stamps and government-supported health insurance.

Aimee Hosler

Writer

Aimee Hosler is a long-time journalist specializing in education and technology. She is an advocate for experiential learning among all ages and serves as the director of communications for a non-profit community makerspace. She holds a degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.