Need help brainstorming arguments for a 'Why College Should Be Free' essay?

Absolutely, this topic has a lot of layers you can dig into beyond the basics! Here are some less common arguments and angles you might consider:

1. **Economic Mobility and Equality:** Free college can help close opportunity gaps for underrepresented or low-income groups. By removing financial barriers, students from all backgrounds—regardless of zip code or family income—could pursue upward mobility. You might reference examples from countries like Germany or Norway, where accessible higher education correlates with higher social mobility.

2. **Boosting National Economy:** An educated workforce drives innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. If more people get degrees without incurring massive debt, they're likely to spend more (boosting the economy) rather than prioritizing loan repayment. There are also studies suggesting that investing in higher education leads to a greater tax base in the long run because graduates earn more and contribute more back to the economy.

3. **Entrepreneurship and Risk-Taking:** With no student loans weighing them down, graduates may feel freer to start their own businesses or pursue less conventional career paths. For example, a friend paid off her student loans for years and said the debt kept her from opening her own bookstore. Without those monthly payments, she would have felt more comfortable taking the leap.

4. **Public Health and Social Benefits:** Higher education is linked to better health outcomes, lower crime rates, and higher civic participation (like voting or community service). If college were free and more accessible, society as a whole could benefit from these positive externalities.

5. **Reduces Stigma and Stress About Education:** When the cost of college is erased, high school students can focus on finding the right academic fit and career path, not just what they can afford. This can make for a more passionate and diverse student body.

6. **Preventing Brain Drain:** High college costs push students to study or work abroad where education may be cheaper. Free tuition could keep talent in the country, contributing back to the local and national communities.

If it fits your essay, you might also add that community colleges in some states are already tuition-free, and initial studies show increased enrollment and greater degree completion rates. That’s a concrete, current data point you could cite.

Bringing in a personal anecdote or a brief story about someone you know or a public figure (like Michelle Obama, who has spoken about how finances almost held her back from going to college) can make your argument more relatable and powerful. Good luck—sounds like you’re off to a solid start!