The college experience is now labeled as a luxury available only to those who can afford it. In a panel discussion held by Congressman John Carney (D-DE), it was pointed out that the cost of attending college has increased by up to 570% over the past three decades. Many young students find it difficult to achieve their goal of obtaining a higher education. The student athlete, however, does not need money or great intelligence to receive this type of education. All they need is pure talent and a great opportunity. Now, few student athletes believe money should be added to the mix. This would only add insult to those who still cannot afford college. Student athletes should not be paid because they are fortunate to receive a free education and other benefits not normally afforded to regular students. An athletic scholarship is the key to a better life for most young students. How an individual will push themselves to reach a higher level often makes a difference. One motivation study suggested that the idea of ​​athletic scholarship has a negative effect on both non-scholarship and scholarship athletes (Medic et al. 292). The main highlight of the study was the decrease in motivation in the players' respective sports (Medic et al. 300). The results were very similar for both non-scholarship and scholarship players (Medic et al. 300). Additional pressure to obtain or maintain a scholarship has pushed student athletes to sacrifice their love of the game for the benefits of a scholarship and all that comes with it (Medic et al. 301). This effect is already in full swing as most athletes see free education as the main attraction to push themselves to be the best in sports. If colleges are the protagonists… in the middle of the paper… they are not simply handed out like candy. Only a small elite has the opportunity to receive a free education. This opportunity should not be clouded by greed. Works Cited Congressman Carney, University Administrators Discuss Rising Costs of Higher Education. Lanham: Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc, 2013. ProQuest. Network. April 6, 2014.Medic, Nikola, et al. “The Effects of Athletic Scholarships on Motivation in Sports.” Journal of Sports Behavior 30.3 (2007): 292-306. ProQuest. Network. April 6, 2014.Burton, Richard. “College athletes are already paid for their education.” USNews & World Report 04 2013: 1. ProQuest. Network. 6 April 2014. Zissou, Rebecca. "Fair play." Junior Scholastic December 9, 2013: 15. ProQuest. Network. April 6, 2014. Lewis, Michael and Bob Williams. “SHOULD COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS BE PAID?” New York Times Advance, November 17, 2008: 22. ProQuest. Network. April 6. 2014 .