Both views regarding access to higher education are incorrect. Access to higher education should be made available for all students, good or poor, without discrimination.

Education is a human right, and discrimination of any kind is an immoral act. The right to an education is an inherent part of human nature, and no one should be denied it. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. This means that every person, regardless of their economic status, race, gender, or any other factor, should be afforded the opportunity to acquire an education.

The argument for the proponents of this view is that higher education should be available to everyone who attends a college or university. The proponents of this view believe that poor people cannot be expected to pay for an education that may leave them unemployed and unable to sustain themselves, and thus denying them access to higher education is immoral. However, this argument fails to take into consideration that access to higher education should be extended to all, and not just those who are wealthy. The poor have been afforded the same right to an education as the rich, and the very fact that they cannot afford college should not make them any less deserving of an education. Additionally, this argument only looks at the cost of college, and does not take into account the fact that many colleges use financial aid programs to ensure that all students can afford to attend. These aid programs, however, are hardly sufficient to ensure that every student can afford education in today’s increasingly expensive world. Moreover, many colleges offer scholarships and grants to students based on merit, or on financial need, and thus fail to take into account the supposed immorality of denying scholarships to those who cannot afford them.

The argument against the proponents of this view is that higher education should only be available to those students who are capable of obtaining a meaningful job after graduating. They argue that people who cannot afford a college education are merely wasting their time, and instead should be encouraged to pursue more practical, vocational degrees. However, this view fails to take into account the fact that many jobs that require a college degree have become obsolete or do not require one at all. As jobs disappear, and as technology continues to transform the ways in which people perform their jobs, people will need to obtain new degrees in order to keep up with the job market. Additionally, many people still enjoy higher education without considering a job, and simply enjoy learning for its own sake. As such, it is unjust to deny these people an education simply because they are not interested in becoming financially independent. Furthermore, the proponents of this view fail to acknowledge that many occupations require at least some college training, and thus denying students an opportunity to obtain a college degree will limit their ability to get jobs. Finally, some college programs, such as certain medical programs, require students to have certain prerequisite skills, such as chemistry and physics, which many people cannot afford to take in high school. These requirements ensure that only those who are capable of passing the prerequisite courses are eligible for the program, and thus, denying students an opportunity to take these courses in high school will only prevent them from being able to attend college in the first place.

The view that supports the belief that higher education should be available to all students overlooks the fact that it is not a simple matter of providing education to those who cannot afford it. It is true that it is morally wrong to discriminate on the basis of student finances, but it is also wrong to assume that the financial burden of college can be completely eradicated. Many people cannot afford to pay for college, and so rely on scholarships and grants. However, these programs are usually insufficient to cover the cost of tuition, housing, and dining, and many students are forced to take out student loans in order to cover these costs. If student loans are not sufficient to cover the costs of tuition, housing, and dining, then students will be unable to afford to attend college. Moreover, many students simply cannot afford to attend college, and thus must resort to working multiple jobs in order to cover their living expenses. Even those who manage to get scholarships or grants must still work, and many of them may not find enough hours in a day to complete their coursework. As such, the proponents of this view are overlooking the fact that many students will be unable to obtain a college education, even if college is free for everyone. The solution to this problem is not to make college free, but to invest in better financial aid programs. Such programs would help ensure that students are able to attend college regardless of their financial situation, and thus, allow students to acquire the education they deserve.