With the presidential election approaching quickly, the economy has been a relevant topic of discussion among students at UNK. College is already as expensive as it is with tuition, housing, textbooks and general living expenses. As the economy worsens, these costs are guaranteed to increase and impact students further.
There needs to be a change.
Nearly 9 out of 10 incoming students at UNK receive some type of financial aid. If a student decides to live off campus, they will be faced with further issues caused by the current state of the economy. Living in Kearney, students will need a place to stay and a way to get around town.
Unfortunately, the current cost of vehicles makes getting a reliable car or truck more difficult than it has ever been before. The housing market is also worse now than it has been in a long time. Landlords are getting away with prices far higher than what a place is really worth, and apartment complexes continue to increase rent prices.
With the rise of inflation, every aspect of living for a college student will continue to get more expensive. The cost of food and basic living necessities have increased by nearly 30% in some areas in the last five years, beginning under the presidency of Donald Trump and continuing through the presidency of Joe Biden.
The economy is one of the most important factors students will take into consideration when deciding who to vote for in the upcoming November election. Economists say that whoever wins in the upcoming election cannot guarantee a fix for the economy. Whoever is in office can only do so much – global events beyond the control of the president are the biggest influence on the current economy.
One of the biggest concerns for students regarding the state of our economy is job security. As inflation increases and costs get higher, companies will need to downsize in order to accommodate higher prices, or even shut down completely in some cases. This can cause problems for current students and those who have recently graduated or will graduate soon.
Current students may struggle to afford the cost of college due to the lack of jobs available that pay reasonably. Students who have graduated or will graduate soon may also be worried that the degree they put their time and money toward won’t have any use outside of college as potential career options continue to decrease.
While the future for many career paths is uncertain, we should not allow the declining economy to impact our decision to pursue our ideal career choice. There is no certainty in our economy in the next few years, and whatever happens is out of the population’s control.
