- Low-income students would see benefits. "The biggest effects of free college on graduation rates are for groups that are traditionally underrepresented in education," says study co-author Amanda Pallais, an economics ...
- Student debt would decrease. Debt is a big factor in students enrolling and persisting through college. ...
- Community college students were not affected. Lifted graduation rates do not affect all higher learning institutions, though. ...
Who would benefit most from free college?
Free college programs benefit higher-income students the most. Contrary to their reputation as “progressive,” free college programs overwhelmingly allocate taxpayer dollars toward upper- and upper-middle-class students, giving them a further head start than they already have in the higher education system.
Why free college is a bad idea?
While never having to be in debt after college would be nice, the cost would not outweigh the benefit, ultimately hurting society as a whole. A major issue resides in the high cost of taxes associated with a free college program. Estimates of the program costs could range anywhere from 47 billion to a trillion dollars.
What are the pros and cons of free college?
There are no tax deductions on the federal level. Regardless of the 529 plan you pick, the money grows tax-free. Plans offer a variety of investment options, generally different combinations of stocks and bonds, allowing the account owner to decide just how much risk to take on.
Would free college boost the economy?
Proponents of free college argue that the change would boost the country’s productivity and GDP as people sorted themselves into more suitable, higher-paying jobs. There are also social benefits to having a more educated populace and helping young people find their path.
Which candidate supports eliminating tuition and fees at public colleges?
Bernie Sanders supports eliminating tuition and fees at public colleges, whereas Hillary Clinton favors increases in student aid targeted at low- and middle-income students. This report provides new evidence on which groups of students are likely to benefit the most from a policy that eliminates tuition and fees at public colleges and universities. ...
How would eliminating tuition and fees affect college enrollment?
[ii] In other words, these projected numbers assume that all students would still enroll at the same institution, and at the same intensity, when tuition and fees are eliminated. In reality, enrollment would likely increase overall, although it is not obvious among which income groups it would increase the most. College enrollment among low-income students might rise relative to other students, but it also might fall if competition for places at public colleges increases as higher-income students shift from the private to the public sector given the change in price.
Is the debate over free college more likely to be resolved on political grounds than on empirical grounds?
The debate over free college is more likely to be resolved on political than on empirical grounds, but the ultimate design of proposals to change how students and taxpayers pay for higher education should carefully consider their likely distributional consequences and the tradeoffs between targeted and universal programs.
Why should colleges be free?
Advocates of tuition-free college say that making public, four-year universities free could help narrow the education and wealth gap by allowing more non-White and low-income students to graduate.
What does Columbia University study not measure?
One thing the study does not measure is the whether free college would tempt more people to apply. That’s not easy to gauge, Cohodes says.
How much did the average student loan debt in 2018 cost?
Student debt would decrease. Debt is a big factor in students enrolling and persisting through college. The average student loan debt of 2018 graduates was $29,200, according to an analysis from The Institute for College Access & Success.
Does free tuition help underrepresented students?
Even though the study found that students most underrepresented in higher learning institutions benefited from free tuition, it's hard to say how a federal initiative to provide more financial aid to all students would affect the way college is perceived by those of all socioeconomic classes.
Does lifting graduation rates affect all higher learning institutions?
Lifted graduation rates do not affect all higher learning institutions, though. Students who enrolled full time at four-year universities for their first year of college, as opposed to those who enrolled part time or went to community college, reaped the most benefits from free tuition.
Does tuition free college help low income students?
According to a new study from Harvard and MIT, free college would lift graduation rates at four-year colleges. However, most of the money does not go to low-income students. Tuition-free college has been part of many democratic presidential candidates’ platforms, including that of former Vice President Joe Biden.
Do low income students benefit from free college?
Low-income students would see benefits. “The biggest effects of free college on graduation rates are for groups that are traditionally underrepresented in education,” says study co-author Amanda Pallais, an economics professor at Harvard University. “This includes students who are non-White, who are lower income, who are first generation, ...
Former officer Lane takes the stand in federal civil rights trial
Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane took the witness stand in his own defense, describing George Floyd as "handcuffed and out of control" early in the arrest that ended in his death.
DFLers unveil plan to recruit officers with 'strong moral character'
A new program would provide free tuition, bonuses and other incentives to attract high school and college graduates to law enforcement.
St. Thomas eyes Town & Country Club land for athletics expansion
The Tommies are in search of a location for an ice hockey facility fitting of their Division I classification.
Senate GOP pushing to add Minnesota to national nurse licensure compact
The state's nurses union criticized the proposal as an attack on bargaining rights.
1 dead, 3 wounded in shooting outside St. Paul funeral home
The shooting occurred about 11:20 a.m. in the 400 block of Humboldt Avenue near the Bradshaw Funeral Home, the location of services for 26-year-old Casanova Carter, who was fatally shot in the city early this month.
What does "free college" mean?
What Does Free College Really Mean? Free college programs that cover students’ tuition are a step toward addressing issues of the cost of higher education, but leave questions of quality unanswered. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced a plan, the Excelsior Scholarship, to cover state tuition costs for middle- ...
What happens if you lower the price of college?
If you lower the price of college to zero, you are going to get a lot more students enrolling. Absent significant increases in state funding for higher education, the same pool of resources will then be spread across many more students.
What is the last dollar scholarship?
Most states propose to fund free college plans as “last-dollar” scholar ships. This means that the state commits to covering unmet financial aid after all other eligible funds — such as the federal Pell grant — are exhausted. Additionally, most plans cover tuition and fees but not additional expenses such as room and board or textbooks.
Why did the Adams Scholarship work?
The study found that these students took up the offer of “free college,” opting to attend a Massachusetts public institution instead of a private college. Strikingly, the authors found that students who took up the Adams scholarship were less likely to graduate from college. They show persuasively that this is due to differences in college quality. The private colleges had higher levels of per-student spending and higher graduation rates, but students were lured to lower quality public institutions by the offer of “free college.”
What is the Excelsior Scholarship?
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced a plan, the Excelsior Scholarship, to cover state tuition costs for middle- and low-income students across the state. The proposal, which would cover families making up to $125,000 per year, also includes two-year community colleges. While heralded as an initiative that would put New York at ...
Is lower prices better for students?
Not at all. Lower prices are always better from the student’s perspective! On the other hand, state higher education budgets are under enormous pressure. My concern is that states will pay for “free college” by cutting the subsidies that they currently send directly to the public colleges in the state. This raises the question: Is it better to subsidize education on the supply side (by funding public institutions out of tax revenues) or on the demand side (by giving financial aid to students directly)?
Is college a ticket to the middle class?
More than ever, a college degree is a ticket to the middle class. The question is how to get there. One concern — raised by others such as Matt Chingos at the Urban Institute — is that most of the benefits of free college plans accrue to higher-income families. The reason goes back again to the “last dollar” design.
Should college be free? Understand the debate from both sides
Kelly Dilworth is a personal finance expert who has written hundreds of articles for dozens of publications, including Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, and CreditCards.com. She holds a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College.
Types of Publicly Funded College Tuition Programs
Before diving into the weeds of the free college debate, it's important to note that not all free college programs are alike. Most publicly funded tuition assistance programs are restricted to the first two years of study, typically at community colleges. Free college programs also vary widely in the ways they’re designed, funded, and structured:
Pros: Why College Should Be Free
Proponents often argue that publicly funded college tuition programs eventually pay for themselves, in part by giving students the tools they need to find better jobs and earn higher incomes than they would with a high school education.
Cons: Why College Should Not Be Free
Free community college isn’t a universally popular idea. While many critics point to the potential costs of funding such programs, others identify issues with the effectiveness and fairness of current attempts to cover students’ college tuition. Here’s a closer look at the concerns about free college programs.
What the Free College Debate Means for Students
With Congress focused on other priorities, a nationwide free college program is unlikely to happen anytime soon. However, some states and municipalities offer free tuition programs, so students may be able to access some form of free college, depending on where they live.
How To Cut Your College Costs Now
Saving money on college costs can be challenging, but you can take steps to reduce your cost of living. For example, if you're interested in a college but haven't yet enrolled, pay close attention to where it's located and how much residents typically pay for major expenses, such as housing, utilities, and food.
Should community college be free?
It’s a big question with varying viewpoints. Supporters of free community college cite the economic contributions of a more educated workforce and the individual benefit of financial security, while critics caution against the potential expense and the inefficiency of last-dollar free college programs.
How effective is free tuition?
Free college tuition programs have proved effective in helping mitigate the system’s current inequities by increasing college enrollment, lowering dependence on student loan debt and improving completion rates, especially among students of color and lower-income students who are often the first in their family to attend college.
Why is tuition free important?
Tuition-free college is critical to our economy. To rebuild America’s economy in a way that offers everyone an equal chance to get ahead, federal support for free college tuition should be a priority in any economic recovery plan in 2021.
How much did the federal government spend on college tuition in 2016?
Consider, however, that the federal government spent $91 billion in 2016 on policies that subsidized college attendance. At least some of that could be used to help make public higher education institutions tuition-free in partnership with the states.
How much would it cost to eliminate tuition?
It is estimated that even without this family income limitation, eliminating tuition for four years at all public colleges and universities for all students would cost taxpayers $79 billion a year , according to U.S. Department of Education data. Consider, however, that the federal government spent $91 billion in 2016 on policies that subsidized college attendance. At least some of that could be used to help make public higher education institutions tuition-free in partnership with the states.
When did free college start?
However, it should be noted that the very first state free college tuition program was initiated in 2015 by former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican. Subsequently, such deep red states with Republican majorities in their state legislature such as West Virginia, Kentucky and Arkansas have adopted similar programs.
Is K-12 education free?
It envisions a program as universal and free as K-12 education is today, with all the sustainable benefits such programs (including Social Security and Medicare) enjoy. It also calls for making four years of public college tuition free, again in partnership with states, for students from families making less than $125,000 per year.
Is community college free?
But community college is not yet free to all students. Tuition costs — just more than $1,500 for a full course load — are waived for low-income students.
Why should college be free?
Here are 5 reasons that support the case for debt-free education: 1. Improves Society. When people are more educated, they can solve problems better. This means that society can progress at a faster rate.
Which countries have free education?
Here’s a look at some countries where education is free for everyone, free for just their residents or highly subsidized by the government for foreign exchange students: Germany. Austria (free for EU residents, low cost for non-EU residents) Finland. Czech Republic.
How much debt do students graduate with?
Most students graduate with a massive amount of debt. For example, in the U.S., the average student debt per person is $31,172.
What happens when more people have access to college?
Also, when more people have access to a college education, the number of employable people for high-skilled jobs increases. This means that more people will join the workforce, which could help lessen the wealth gap between the upper, middle, and lower class. 2.
Why is it important to focus on your studies when you are not worried about money?
This added stress can negatively impact their focus during the time when they are supposed to be learning.
What would happen if we graduated without debt?
On the other hand, if people were to graduate without debt, that could fast track their ability to earn, save, and spend. This helps to stimulate the economy. With increases in consumer spending, there is more demand. More demand in spending also relates back to a higher demand in the workforce, or more opportunities for employment. This spurs a positive cycle of economic activity.
Is technology making it possible to increase access to education globally?
Thankfully, the progression in technology is making it possible to increase the access to education globally. However, there is still a long way to go and more schools and countries are weighing the pros and cons of offering an affordable education.
Which country offers free tuition for citizens?
Austria: offers free tuition for citizens. Brazil: offers free tuition for citizens as well as international students; however, all classes are taught in the national language of Portuguese. Czech Republic: offers free tuition for citizens.
Which countries offer free tuition?
Germany: offers free tuition for citizens as well as international students. Greece: offers free tuition for citizens as well as international students; however, all classes are taught in Greek. Iceland: offers free tuition for citizens as well as international students. Kenya: offers free tuition for citizens.
Which country offers free tuition for citizens of all countries in the European Union?
Slovenia: offers free tuition for citizens of all countries in the European Union.
How can we solve the student loan debt crisis?
One of the ways that politicians, policy-makers, and advocates have suggested that we solve this crisis is by implementing a free college program and forgiving student loans. While a majority of voters seem to support free college programs, solving the problems brought on by the rising cost of college can seem insurmountable. What you may not know is that several countries around the world have already expanded public education to include four-year colleges and universities. In this short guide, we’re going to take a look at those countries and explain how free college works for them.
Does Czech Republic offer free tuition?
Czech Republic: offers free tuition for citizens. International students are also given the opportunity for free classes in the Czech language. Classes taught in other languages are not free.
Is education free in Iran?
In other countries, such as Iran and Finland, free education is provided to all students as a result of higher taxes but that’s not all. In Iran, for instance, all students are required to serve in the military for however many years it took them to complete their college degrees.
Is free education a relative term?
So, as is true in many cases, free is a relative term. The burden of the cost usually falls back on the taxpayers.
