German gets rid of college tuition fees

yeezus

yeezus

It's OVER 5,000!
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2014/10/01/3574551/germany-free-college-tuition/

"We got rid of tuition fees because we do not want higher education which depends on the wealth of the parents,” Gabrielle Heinen-Kjajic, the minister for science and culture in Lower Saxony, said in a statement."

"Compared to American students, Germans barely had to pay for undergraduate study even before tuition fees were abolished. Semester fees averaged around €500 ($630) and students were entitled to many perks, such as cheap (often free) transportation within and between cities.

Free education is a concept that is embraced in most of Europe with notable exceptions like the U.K., where the government voted to lift the cap on university fees in 2010. The measure has reportedly cost more money than it brought in. The Guardian reported in March that students are failing to pay back student loans at such a rate that “the government will lose more money than it would have saved from keeping the old £3,000 ($4,865) tuition fee system."

Why can't the US work towards something like this? I'm guessing a lot of people would complain because it would stop giving wealthy people the big advantage they get, but this needs to be implemented in some fashion here, or at least significantly lower college costs. Our current system can't last. Well, it can for the wealthy. So maybe it will stay.
 
Also...

"Higher education is now free throughout the country, even for international students."

Amazing the difference in how people are treated in other countries.
 
yeezus said:
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2014/10/01/3574551/germany-free-college-tuition/

"We got rid of tuition fees because we do not want higher education which depends on the wealth of the parents,” Gabrielle Heinen-Kjajic, the minister for science and culture in Lower Saxony, said in a statement."

"Compared to American students, Germans barely had to pay for undergraduate study even before tuition fees were abolished. Semester fees averaged around €500 ($630) and students were entitled to many perks, such as cheap (often free) transportation within and between cities.

Free education is a concept that is embraced in most of Europe with notable exceptions like the U.K., where the government voted to lift the cap on university fees in 2010. The measure has reportedly cost more money than it brought in. The Guardian reported in March that students are failing to pay back student loans at such a rate that “the government will lose more money than it would have saved from keeping the old £3,000 ($4,865) tuition fee system."

Why can't the US work towards something like this? I'm guessing a lot of people would complain because it would stop giving wealthy people the big advantage they get, but this needs to be implemented in some fashion here, or at least significantly lower college costs. Our current system can't last. Well, it can for the wealthy. So maybe it will stay.
Click to expand...

Since my eldest is going to be a product of this system this month (she graduates) and her future place of work paid her tuition. I provided her spending money the four years while she was there and thank goodness for that as I have two other kids that go to private school as well.
 
yeezus said:
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2014/10/01/3574551/germany-free-college-tuition/

"We got rid of tuition fees because we do not want higher education which depends on the wealth of the parents,” Gabrielle Heinen-Kjajic, the minister for science and culture in Lower Saxony, said in a statement."

"Compared to American students, Germans barely had to pay for undergraduate study even before tuition fees were abolished. Semester fees averaged around €500 ($630) and students were entitled to many perks, such as cheap (often free) transportation within and between cities.

Free education is a concept that is embraced in most of Europe with notable exceptions like the U.K., where the government voted to lift the cap on university fees in 2010. The measure has reportedly cost more money than it brought in. The Guardian reported in March that students are failing to pay back student loans at such a rate that “the government will lose more money than it would have saved from keeping the old £3,000 ($4,865) tuition fee system."

Why can't the US work towards something like this? I'm guessing a lot of people would complain because it would stop giving wealthy people the big advantage they get, but this needs to be implemented in some fashion here, or at least significantly lower college costs. Our current system can't last. Well, it can for the wealthy. So maybe it will stay.
Click to expand...

State taxes will go up since these are public schools and most states are in the red, so that won't happen.

German heavily tax their citizens to provide their medical and schooling. Will not work over here. I could call the ex if you want more information. We talk weekly. I could have her paste it on Facebook and have Okie, Dalyn or Bedell to confirm what she says about it since they are on my facebook and confirm the information I have stated.
 
AerchAngel said:
Since my eldest is going to be a product of this system this month (she graduates) and her future place of work paid her tuition. I provided her spending money the four years while she was there and thank goodness for that as I have two other kids that go to private school as well.
Click to expand...

You have an incredible network of acquaintances that are perfectly relevant to most topics on this board.
 
sturg33 said:
You have an incredible network of acquaintances that are perfectly relevant to most topics on this board.
Click to expand...

Yes and I can back them up as well.

Facebook is a marvelous piece of technology. If I said anything wrong Dalyn would say something. He knows me from there and I know him, one cool dude. Bedell is really nice and Oklahoma Hawk is always there to lend a hand and make sure I am okay in life. They see everything I see. They know my family members (including my German ex and daughter) and all my friends (some of them German) which aren't many and where I work, where I went to school, what my likes and dislikes are, heck probably where I live as well because I trust them and I don't trust many people.
 
We'll never see the German system in America, which some will applaud and others bemoan, but I believe we are going to see a restructuring of the last two years in high school in this country that will hopefully give high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credits paying little, most likely no, tuition to colleges and universities. We do that in a couple of ways in Minnesota already, but I think it is going to be greatly expanded over the next decade.

As for the Germans, they are heavily taxed, but their society--top-to-bottom--looks at the expenditure end of the equation and believes it's a bargain. It may prove difficult to maintain the benefit levels of their social programs into the future, but the Germans always seem to find a way to make things work.
 
50PoundHead said:
We'll never see the German system in America, which some will applaud and others bemoan, but I believe we are going to see a restructuring of the last two years in high school in this country that will hopefully give high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credits paying little, most likely no, tuition to colleges and universities. We do that in a couple of ways in Minnesota already, but I think it is going to be greatly expanded over the next decade.

As for the Germans, they are heavily taxed, but their society--top-to-bottom--looks at the expenditure end of the equation and believes it's a bargain. It may prove difficult to maintain the benefit levels of their social programs into the future, but the Germans always seem to find a way to make things work.
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They do have that here in Eau Claire. I just went to talk to my fellow co-worker who have high school students. They are taking classes that are Frosh year in college and they do not have to pay. But there is a caveat, some of the WI school system will honor them but UW-Madison will not unless you pass some test for that particular course and the one I spoke to, his daughter did not so she had to take the class over. Basically it is a gamble.

I do work with the Minneapolis and St Paul schools and most of their suburbs, but I do not know enough about their curriculum to form an opinion since I do not work in that area. I assume they have something and UM probably have the same guidelines as UW-Madison.
 
50PoundHead said:
As for the Germans, they are heavily taxed, but their society--top-to-bottom--looks at the expenditure end of the equation and believes it's a bargain. It may prove difficult to maintain the benefit levels of their social programs into the future, but the Germans always seem to find a way to make things work.
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Oh they gripe, but until the reserves get into the red, then they will keep doing what they are doing.

The medical system is pretty neat. Despite popular belief that the state pays everything and they do, a lot of corporations have health insurance as well.

State care = uncomfortable settings (like urgent care) and waiting lists.
Insurance = suites and no waiting lists.

That is the difference.
 
The problem lies just as much with all the people who go to college and spend all this money on stupid classes and then they come out with these stupid majors that give them no chance to have a decent career and make a decent living which allows them to pay back thier student debt

You can make a fine living without a college degree. Going to college and taking out loans doesn't entitle one to a good paying job. That's the big problem.
 
So instead of helping my own child pay for college, I'd be helping everyone's child pay for college?

What does this sound like?

Anyone? Anyone?
 
Krgrecw said:
You can make a fine living without a college degree. Going to college and taking out loans doesn't entitle one to a good paying job. That's the big problem.
Click to expand...

There's no guarantee either way. The bottom line is you have to have a skill(s) that is deemed necessary and/or desirable, and still there's no guarantee.
 
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