Rising College Costs Pose Test for Obama on Education Policies

Parents Forum
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<p>[url=<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/us/politics/college-costs-test-obamas-education-policies.html%5DRising"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/us/politics/college-costs-test-obamas-education-policies.html]Rising&lt;/a> College Costs Pose Test for Obama on Education Policy
By RICHARD P</p>

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<p>Like most policies, the Pell Grant and other federal education funding are enacted by Congress, not the president. Specifically for the Pell Grant, its legislation has been reauthorized by Congress and signed by presidents, both Democrat and Republican numerous times. And, as for President Obama’s involvement, note it was last reauthorized under the G.W. Bush administration and doesn’t expire until after the next presidential inauguration.
Don’t confuse the president’s power with that of Congress, especially in an election year.</p>

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<p>So, if it’s Pell Grants that are driving up college costs, then we should expect large numbers of Pell Grant recipients to enroll at the most expensive colleges (since all that grant money is helping them pay tuition) and that Pell Grant money should be covering a lot of the tuition.</p>

<p>First, let’s see the typical family that receives Pell Grant and how much money a Pell Grant gives:</p>

<p>The maximum amount of money in 2011-12 you can get through the Pell Grant is 5,500.</p>

<p>In 2007-8, the average AGI of the family of Pell Grant recipients was $20, 300. The median AGI was $15, 200.</p>

<p>And then, most Pell Grant recipients attend colleges that have a cost of attendance lower than 20K–only 22% of Pell Grant recipients in 2007/8 went to college/universities with a COA above 20K. If anything, Pell Grants help low income students attend a 4 year college/university rather than enrolling in a 2 year college first.</p>

<p>So how can Pell Grants be driving up cost, when it covers just a fraction of the COA at an expensive college/university for very low income families and the majority of Pell Grant recipients go to less expensive schools?</p>

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<p>Stafford and Perkins loans contribute more to driving up costs, then?</p>