Should College Be Considered a Monopoly?
As I'm sure we all know college can cost a lot of money; however, it most likely costs a different amount for each of us. Why is it that a college is able to make one person pay a higher price than another person? Because one person is good at a sport, or gets good grades, or wouldn't have enough money to come if it weren't for the grants/scholarships he/she receives from the college? Could a college be considered a monopoly because it charges customers different prices for the same service?
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/college_costs.html
6 comments:
I dont think that college can be considered a monopoly, because there are so many opportunities out there that can either reduce the cost of college, or provide you with an alternative to college. There are many jobs available that do not require college degrees. In addition, shouldn't people be rewarded for the things that they do well. Is it not right to give a scholarship to a student who gets good grades and involves him or herself in a multitude of activities? Or, should that person and the person who squeaks by in high school be given the same treatment. It would seem that those who work harder deserve some benefit for that work.
I have never thought of college as a monopoly but it is an idea to consider. I think of a monopoly as something that you can get by without but it would be easier to have whatever is being monopolized. I think college can be considered a monopoly because studies have shown that your income is proportional to your education. Therefore, it is not neccessary to go to college but it would make life easier. This is my definition of a monopoly so I would consider college to be one.
To me,College is a really broad term to coin as a "Monopoly". After all, there are thousands of colleges and universities around the country for students to attend. If there was one big college, and everyone in the country had to attend if they wanted a higher education, that could be considered a monopoly to me. While college is expensive, some are less (state schools) and some are more expensive (private and ivy league). It makes it difficult to catagorize somthing as a monopoly when using it is a choice and you can benifit with or without it.
I do not believe college can be considered a monopoly. A monopoly is considered control by one group to provide a good or service. The fact that there are thousands of colleges around the United States that offer different tuition rates exempts college from being a monopoly. Because certain people get scholarships and grants for different things only points out the equal opportunity that is allegedly presented in the United States.
I believe it is a little bold to call college a monopoly. There are so many to choose from at so many different price ranges. Yes, they charge different students different rates but at the same time, different colleges give the same person different rates. If i went to a public university, i would be paying a lot less money with scholarships i would receive. I would still get a good education as well.
Calling a college a monopoly is a strong statement, but is partially true. To look at college in a market of education, college is a monopoly. Basically, college is the only way to recieve a level of higher education, and has no posed threats by any alternative options. However, there are alternatives to attending college. Entering the job force is one example. However, to call a college a monopoly based on the amount of money charged to each person does not make sense. The definition of a monopoly is the exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market. Prices for individuals from college to college have an enormous range, either way expensive, but personal decisions are made how much you are willing and able to pay, with the assistance of scholarships, financial aid, etc. being considered.
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