Free College in Europe: A Cautionary Tale for the United States. Backgrounder. No. 3455

As the price of college continues to rise and students find themselves deeper in debt, Americans are clamoring for ways to reduce their out-of-pocket college costs and debt. Some lawmakers have proposed removing the cost of college tuition as a solution. However, this brief argues three points: (1) U.S. policymakers should be wary of countries that provide "free" college to citizens. This has led to overcrowding, reduced access, and fewer resources per student; (2) "Free" college in America would be extremely expensive, with the costs burdening many taxpayers who did not obtain college degrees; and (3) Instead, the U.S. should focus on reducing college costs that are fueled by federal student loans and bolster alternative pathways like apprenticeships.