It’s an election year and voters are hearing a great deal, once again, about the “American dream.” Candidate Donald Trump pledges to “restore” the American dream and candidate Hillary Clinton kicked off her campaign with a speech about the American dream. It makes for good copy, but how attainable and for whom is the American dream designed? When it comes to discussing education as a vehicle for future success, the American dream may not have died, but the road to get there has surely become treacherous and pitted.
The concept of the American dream was originally coined by a writer, James Truslaw Adams, who in 1931 declared the American dream was the concept in which life would be better for everyone, “with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement”. (Cole) The idea gained momentum when, upon their return from the second world war, veterans were given an opportunity to pursue higher education under the GI bill, and thus embark on an improved existence. For at least a generation, the American dream as viewed through the lens of a “better life” was a reality.
Fast forward a couple of generations and education as a means to success has become infinitely more difficult, but not impossible, to achieve. Where many veterans once received higher education for the cost of serving Uncle Sam, today’s college bound students and yesterday’s students are paying a tangibly higher price. They not only leave college, if they could pay “expected contributions” with a degree, but they are generally, saddled with debt.
Before the cost of room and board, the average cost of tuition for students annually at a public four year college in their state of residence is $9,139; at a public four year college out of state it rises to $22, 958 and private schools of the same length of time come in, on average, at a whopping $31,231. (“College Costs FAQ”) Many veterans were able to take advantage of a free education and benefit from the better jobs such degrees would offer. In today’s educational landscape we have graduates who are burdened by their cost of education. In addition, it was the norm for ‘adults’ 18 and over to fund their own education just post WWII. Financial aid and the cost of higher education now indicate there should be student contribution as well as parent contributions to college education-thus burdening not one, but two generations simultaneously.
Why do people do it? Is it just in the pursuit of the ideal that a great education leads to a good job and hopefully, a satisfactory existence? There is substantial data to support higher education will indeed lead to better paying jobs. In a 2011 survey, it was found that people with a bachelor’s degree, working full time earned on average, $21,000 more annually that those with only a high school diploma. (“College Costs FAQ”) In addition, it is found that people with college degrees tend to keep their jobs through recessions, and have a lower rate of unemployment than those only possessing a high school diploma. (Weiner) The payoff of a college degree is not just in making more money, but in having and keeping a job. (Weiner)
Revisiting Adams quote, he only suggests the American dream be an opportunity for success according to “ability or achievement”. Surely, there is far more opportunity today for populations previously denied opportunity. Since 1931, there have been advances in educational opportunity for minority groups, the disabled, women and immigrants. In fact, we could argue the “opportunity” has grown tremendously for all populations.
The drawbacks are accessibility and the costs associated with higher education. Many cannot afford a college education. Most students graduate with some student debt. If a student borrows a total of $24,050 the average loan repayment is $276.77 monthly for 10 years. (Weiner) Students have to be certain to choose fields that will pay enough to live and pay back loan payments, or have enough to pay for college in the first place, unlike the veterans of yesteryear.
In a 2004 poll of 1,821 U.S. citizens, 72% of those surveyed felt the American dream was unattainable due to the high cost of education. 67% felt it was not attainable due to low wages for workers. (Cole) That’s a very real impediment to the success of the American dream. There has been a growing gap between the costs of attaining the American dream and the ability to repay those costs. (McNutt) In his article, “Why Does College Cost So Much?” Mark McNutt points to the fact that little tuition is used for educational costs. However, administrative costs and “amenities” have driven college out of reach for the average American. College president salaries have risen between 75% and 171% from 2000 to 2010 and administrative salaries have increased 97%. So while college administrators may be able to afford higher education, most people cannot.
The opportunity remains. If you have good grades, money or the ability to borrow money, an individual can access higher education, obtain a degree, gain employment and have a better chance of keeping their employment, than a person with a high school degree. In the article, “Why Most People Will Never Achieve the American Dream”, Glenn Llopis writes: “Unlike the past, when all you needed was a college degree today much more is required for you to even be considered to earn the right to pursue the dream.” Is the dream dead? No. Opportunity exists hand in hand with difficulties to overcome. The American dream is not dead, but is certainly altered from the dreams of the past.
Works Cited
Cole, Samantha. “What’s the Current State of The American Dream?” www.fastcompany.com
30 July 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
“College Costs FAQ”. (n.d.) https:// bigfuture. collegeboard.org. 2016 The College Board.
Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
Llopis, Glenn. “Why Most People Will Never Achieve the American Dream” www.forbes.com
3 Sept. 2012. Web. 1 Mar.2016.
McNutt, Mark L. “Why Does College Cost So Much?” www.usnews.com 22 Sept. 2014.
Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
Weiner, Joann. “Do the Benefits of College Outweigh the Cost?” www.washingtonpost.com
22 Aug. 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
