What are some good argumentative essay topics for college students?

Finding an engaging and unique argumentative essay topic can feel tricky, especially since so many 'classic' topics get reused every semester. Since your professor wants something relevant to college students and current issues, you have good room to get creative. Think about the issues that come up in your daily life, in campus conversations, or in student organizations—these often make the best starting points.

Here are a few topics that fit your criteria and haven't become too cliché:

1. Should colleges actively monitor and limit students' use of AI tools (like ChatGPT) for coursework?
2. Is the rising trend of requiring internships for graduation exploitative or beneficial for students?
3. Should colleges be responsible for providing mental health days as excused absences?
4. Does the trend toward online classes after the pandemic ultimately help or harm student learning and campus community?
5. Should campus events be allowed to restrict entry by political affiliation or beliefs?
6. Do university policies around student debt and tuition increases unfairly impact low-income or first-generation students?
7. Is the expectation for students to be constantly 'productive' outside of class (through clubs, research, side hustles) causing burnout?
8. Should universities divest completely from fossil fuels to combat climate change, even at a financial cost?

For example, one student wrote about whether colleges should continue using traditional letter grades or shift to pass/fail systems post-pandemic. She included first-person interviews and recent research, making her essay both timely and personal.

Choose a topic with a fresh angle—think about a rule or trend on your campus that sparks debate. Unique doesn't have to mean outrageous; sometimes, it's just an under-discussed twist on a bigger issue. Once you pick, try to include real-life stories or data to make your argument stand out.