How come in the UK you get paid to go to college, and in the USA you have to pay?

College in the UK = high school is the US. University in the UK = college in the US. While US students are not paid to attend high school (UK college), it is free for public education.

That is actually very simple. In the UK, you and your parents pay taxes that are much, much higher than ours, taxes that go to fund things like education. Despite the fact that Americans are always complaining about paying high taxes, our taxes are actually extremely low compared to Europe's tax rates. So we pay the same amount to attend school that you do, you just spread the amount out over a lifetime of taxes, and we pay it upfront, so it's more noticeable that way. That little stipend you get is from extra tax money, so your parents really paid for it. But have you noticed that if we, as Americans, were to go to the UK to study it would cost us about 20,000 pounds a year, which is because we have not been paying taxes into your system. So it is all about where schools get their funding, you get yours from taxes, we only get a small amount and thus have to get it from tuition fees.

Do you really think £30 a week is that much in helping pay for college? In fact, helping to pay for anything? College is so expensive over there that most of my friends can't go, same for US students - it's so expensive that many can't afford to attend. The difference is that the US offers scholarships and aid(via FAFSA) to students who qualify, and many do. I didn't have to pay anything my first term because my financial aid covered it all and I am very grateful for that. Although I am a British born UK citizen, I prefer to go to college/uni in the US. The UK government doesn't offer anything like that and my friends are really struggling over there to continue their education. Public colleges in the US are far cheaper than colleges/uni in the UK and many offer a great education and competitive degree - if the student is willing to work hard and honestly for it. It really sounds to me as if UK students are getting the short end of the stick, and that's what is not fair. By the way, why are you only concerned about US students? There are many other countries in the world who I'm sure could use some of that pity. My goodness, Arbitrary person you are an idiot! High school in the UK is the same thing as high school in the US. College/university also means the same thing in both countries. You don't get paid to go to high school and below in the UK and it is free, same thing goes for the US. Why don't you stop answering questions because you have no idea what you are talking about. Idiot.

Our government only pays for the really poor to go to college. If you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family you have to pay. Colleges are businesses trying to make money. Its capitalism.