Look, everyone knows that “free” doesn’t mean it has no cost.
Most people have the critical thinking skills to realize that “free” in this context is a reference to what the people actually doing the consuming have to pay (in this case, the students).
And let’s not turn this into “the desperately poor people are using Pell grants to make money”… that has been hashed out many times and is an anomaly, not the norm.
I remind people again that those who are getting the full Pell grant are subsisting very close to the poverty line. It’s not like they’re living the high life, and the majority are going to school so that they can improve their opportunities. They are TRYING to break the cycle of poverty.
If it can be done, think of all the money taxpayers will save on other welfare.
I am one of those who broke out of poverty. I can guarantee that I’ve more than paid back the tax payer’s investment in me through keeping me alive (food stamps) and allowing me to get an education (Pell grants). I will continue to help the system by making decent money and paying taxes- something I wouldn’t have been able to do, likely, without an education. Especially living in an area that is extremely depressed from the loss of factory jobs.
Over the next 10 years the aggregate gdp of the United States should be over $200 Trillion. I am being very conservative with the numbers. Federal Government spending will be around $40 Trillion. This program costs $60 billion.
The econony is going to grow. That is how we are going to pay for this program.
How do you figure? When we are talking about Federal Income Tax, the very small percentage at the very top already pay as much as everyone else combined.
GatorNE88 - excellent post. “While past results do not guarantee future performance”, the whole Obama proposal seems as impactful as flushing the cash down the toilet!
Parents and students hear the message repeatedly that college is too expensive. It becomes something that many families feel is unattainable. The path to college begins early. If ‘free’ community college can change that message, then more kids will believe that access to college is within their grasp and may provide motivation to maintain the GPA needed.
There are some programs in place that can help students financially, but some are not guaranteed, some are only for the top students, and some are simply not well known.
They are not hearing that message about community college. At least where I live you will not find anyone who thinks going to the JC is unattainable, now. And, the needed GPA is 2.5 showing up ought to do it, really. I do agree some don’t know about available programs and others don’t bother with them because it’s already affordable but that starts to sound like making college free because the students can’t figure things out which is not the greatest reason in my opinion and assumes they are stupid which I do not like to do at all and don’t believe for a second. Anyway, after all of these pages I still don’t see a good reason why CC needs to be free for all instead of cheap for all and free does not usually make people try harder in my experience. In other words, I still think this is a solution looking for a problem.
Since Pell Grants cover the cost of CC with $ left over for books, I do not see why this is necessary. I have a lot more I could say about it, but I will leave it at that. I am glad my DD is finishing up her undergrad and this will not be something we have to be concerned with.
Of course saying “free community college” sounds good to the general public… but it’s been free anyway for years. At least since the 1990s. If this surprises anyone it’s the uneducated masses who probably barely got passed high school and never looked into college.
Pell Grants are around $5,700 a year. If you are really poor they will tack on an extra 1 or 2 thousand a year in need based grants based on the school you attend.
Community college usually cost around 2,200 to attend a semester full time. Tuition and books is already free with the pell grant. You will even have some $ left over for food and gas.
This is already available to everyone as long as you have enough patience to complete a FAFSA form (which takes less than 5 minutes) and have a social security number... And the pell grant gives you SIX years of funding. Anyone with a brain should be able to finish a 2 year program in 6 years.
The only thing the presidents plan would do is raise the GPA requirement for financial aid from 2.0 to 2.5. “IF” these 2 years are indeed “Free” and not count toward your pell grant it could be great for the students that plan on getting their bachelors and want to save money.
Free 2 years. Transfer to University as a Junior/Sophomore and still have 6 years of eligibility on your Pell Grant. That would be a nice situation to put students in. I just don’t see that happening with the presidents plan the way it’s been described.
Actually, low income students who are getting Pell and state aid to attend CC will not really be affected by this initiative as there will be no double dipping. If you are a low income student who receives Pell/state to pay your tuition, your tuition will continue to be paid by Pell/state aid as all state and federal monies will be applied first (if a student receives $1000 in Pell, then the government will pick up the balance of the tuition for CC). If you are not Pell eligible or state aid eligible, then you would be getting free tuition.
If this encourages more to attend CCs, instead of 4 year institutions, won’t those with higher grades bump out those with lower grades and defeat the entire purpose.
Aren’t parents already encouraging their kids to attend CC in order to save $$ for the last 2 years. In addition, almost all of CC public colleges have articulation agreements with 4 public year schools in their state(including the state flagships). FOr some, going to CC is simply choosing more than one route to get from point A to point B
$50 billion here $50 billion there and soon you are talking real money. I SERIOUSLY question whether this idea has the bang for the buck to be worth that kind of investment. I think returns will be negative and unanticipated consequences even worse. There will be a larger army of the overeducated underemployed.and many will be minorities. Trees don’t grow to the sky and that includes returns to higher ed.
