- ORIGINAL NEWS
Biden makes another push for tuition-free community college. Here’s why it may work this time
- SUMMARY
President Biden has not abandoned his goal of making community college tuition-free nationwide.
Experts suggest that this approach is superior to student loan forgiveness in addressing the college affordability crisis.
Despite federal inaction, several states have implemented their own free-college programs.
As of now, 35 states offer some form of tuition-free college, typically through last-dollar scholarships that cover any remaining tuition costs after financial aid and grants.
However, critics argue that free college programs may not fully address the needs of lower-income students, as they often already receive substantial financial aid that covers most or all of their tuition.
Additionally, the programs typically do not cover non-tuition expenses like fees, books, and living expenses, which can pose a significant financial burden.
Community college may also not be the ideal pathway to a four-year degree.
Only a small percentage of community college students eventually earn bachelor’s degrees.
Community college tuition is also significantly lower than tuition at four-year schools, so the savings in tuition may not be substantial.
Despite these critiques, supporters of free college programs argue that they improve access to higher education, particularly for nontraditional students, adult learners, and immigrants.
They point to programs like New Mexico’s Opportunity Scholarship Act, which has led to increased college enrollment and provides support for non-tuition expenses.
Overall, the debate over free college is ongoing, with proponents and critics offering different perspectives on its potential benefits and drawbacks.
- NEWS SENTIMENT CHECK
- Overall sentiment:
neutral
Positive
“Critics have panned the president’s efforts on loan forgiveness for overstepping his authority while only impacting those graduates with existing education debt.”
“Alternatively, free college appeals more broadly to those struggling in the face of rising college costs, rather than after the fact.”
Negative
“Critics say lower-income students, through a combination of existing grants and scholarships, already pay little in tuition to state schools, if anything at all.”
“Further, in most cases the money does not cover fees, books, or room and board, which are all costs that lower-income students struggle with, and community college may not be the stepping stone to a four-year school it is often believed to be.”