Tuition-Free Colleges

             Even with the inflation, some colleges and universities are picking up full tuition cost for students. Most of these are military academies and engineering schools because the demand is great.Tuition, fees, room and board at four-year public colleges jumped 46% in the past decade. Schools that cover full tuition are doing the near-impossible to make school affordable for all of their students. However, this ability to provide full tutition is slowly dwendelling with university supporters finding themselves in further financial difficulties. At some schools, students who receive free tuition must pay other costs, including fees, room and board and expenses such as textbooks. At College of the Ozarks each student is required to participate in the on-campus work program by doing landscaping, working in the cafeteria or on production lines making fruitcakes and jellies so that they may leave with an appreciation for what it takes to make it in real life. Also, I recently spent a week in Buenos Aires, Argentina where all colleges are free to students. This is true for may of the colleges in South America.
          I think that is would be amazing for students to be able to obtain a free college education. However, I fear that some students would not work as hard or would not appreciate the oportunity they have been given. I personally know how difficult is is for a college student to obtain the funds for tution and fees especially when the parents are providing any assistance. However, I also know that it is very possible. Although many institutions in the United States are not free to students that are many programs avaliable to assistant in financies beyond the scholarships provided by the intended school. Tuition free schools is a great concept, but I don't know if they are best. Like any idea there will be pros and cons which need to be  considered.

Resource:
Gillum, Jack. Tuition-Free Colleges Stand Their Ground Against Costs. USA Today
        http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-04-06-tuitionfree06_ST_N.htm