Everything has a price. Some things have a higher cost than others: a house is more expensive than a car, a car is more expensive than a phone, and so on. However, the cost of an education often tops all significant costs in one’s life, costing people enormous amounts of money and leading people into tremendous debt.  All for what?  Wanting to have a better future?  This system is entirely unjust and only inhibits a person from achieving success.  In other prosperous nations, education has little cost or even none. Finland, Norway, and Sweden all offer free college. This allows for a more educated and equal society with less disparity between rich and poor.

While education as a whole should not have a cost, Advanced Placement exams from the College Board should be free and easy to complete for high school students.  The College Board claims to be a non-profit organization yet charges hundreds of dollars. They claim to be attempting to help the population save money by providing college credit yet the fees themselves are at a price many high schoolers can not afford. In 2024, the fee for each exam is $99. While it is true that you can be eligible for reduced fees if you qualify for free lunch or other policies, it is still not a good practice.  Some people may be bordering on the line and may not be able to take the exam just because their parents make slightly higher than the qualifying requirements.  The system in place can limit the amount of AP exams people take dues to the high cost of fees.  Even if a student wants to take a more rigorous schedule, they may not be able to afford the multiple advanced placement exam fees.  People who want to learn various subjects such as advanced placement in science, history, or math may have to choose between them. This ends up creating a system in which only those who can afford to pay for several exams are able to access more challenging courses. Education should not have an expensive price tag in a democratic society.  Human nature deems people as naturally curious so it is unjust to inhibit them.  Nurturing a society filled with educated folks allows for innovation, a better community, and a better economy.  All these great ideas and practices arise from an easy step, such a step is only inhibited by cost.  There are more things that define one’s life than economic status and yet that is what the majority of people focus on.  People are struggling to survive and can not spare time or their little money for education. Education should not be a luxury but should be a right. If students wish to take multiple advanced placement courses from College Board, they should not have to struggle to afford them.  To learn is to better your life and to put a price on it is not just impractical but  unfair.