Most people are unaware of most of the statistics of colleges. Being able to expose how much colleges truly cost, how difficult student aid is to apply for, and maybe even comparing quality of education to the price could potentially call many people to action, even those who aren’t directly affected (Brown).
Many people will pay for expensive education simply because they believe the more expensive it is, the better education they will get. If statistics such as post-college salary or graduation rates are more public, students might be more aware about how unfair tuition prices are, and that sometimes they aren’t getting their money’s worth.
Present the positive impacts of higher education being more accessible. Show that the long-term effects outweigh the short-term costs. The idea is to foster growth and improve future generations. Bringing this perspective to the public will strongly impact how individuals feel about the changes being made.
Education will increase productivity, this means faster development in technology, more productivity in workspaces, and a better economy. This will create benefits that affect everyone, like lower prices and better technology for easier lives.
When more of the population has access to higher education, the potential for earning rises significantly. Note that studies have shown college graduates earning 60% more than high school graduates on average. Consider that income and wealth gaps can be reduced as higher education gives the opportunity to climb the socioeconomic ladder (National Center for Education Statistics).
As more of the population has access to higher education, the percentage of people in poverty is bound to decrease. Therefore, reliance on government programs decreases, potentially having positive impacts on taxes.
Becoming more educated allows individuals to better understand the political system, voting procedures, and campaigns.