In his State of the Union message last week, President Obama laid out a plan for providing free tuition to community college students across the nation. This plan could revolutionize education. One of the highest barriers to higher education in the United States is cost. It is time to start reducing that cost for working American families.
According to the nonprofit College Board, the average cost of tuition at a four-year institution is nearly $9,000. The average annual cost of a community college is considerably less — approximately $3,200. However, even that sum can still be an impossibility for many Americans seeking higher education opportunities.
Costs have been rising steadily for higher education, making access more problematic for many Americans. These include not only 18-year-old high school graduates but also millions of older Americans who are unemployed or under-employed and want to return to school to gain more market-competitive skills.
The president’s plan is not a free ride for every community college student. To qualify, a student must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be progressing towards graduation. Nor is every two-year school eligible. The plan is limited to programs with transferable credits to four-year colleges and universities or that offer technical training for jobs that are currently in demand. The White House says the program would benefit an estimated 9 million students across the nation.
The price tag is not cheap. Providing free tuition for these students will cost an estimated $60 billion. However, the program cost will be shared with states, which would be expected to provide one-quarter of the bill if they participate. Nevertheless, most Americans support the president’s proposal. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Poll survey, 53 percent of Americans support the plan while 44 percent oppose.
The plan was not well received in Congress. Republicans balked at the cost. Moreover, they fear the plan will constitute a large-scale intervention by the federal government in the administration of state and local higher education programs. Indeed, it is true that the federal government will monitor high schools, community colleges and four-year colleges well beyond what currently occurs.
That’s why the program should be tweaked to do the following:
Jump-start increased state spending for higher education rather than replace it. In recent years, the percentage of state funding for higher education has dropped across the nation. That trend has increased tuition and higher education costs. That trend must be reversed. This plan lets states off the hook more. The best approach would be a gradual phasing down of federal government dollars to enhance state and local roles.
Also, the amount of tuition remission should be tied to some amount of community service. This could provide some cost-savings to local communities. Students who participate will feel like they are earning their tuition.
Unfortunately, this plan currently has little chance of passage through the Republican-led House and Senate. Compromise is needed on both sides. If the president wants to improve education access rather than trumpet another talking point, he will have to compromise with a wary Republican Congress. Sadly, the White House’s initial approach doesn’t bode well for that. The White House says it wants to start a discussion on this issue. Indeed, a president should do that. He holds what Teddy Roosevelt called “the bully pulpit.” Through extensive media coverage, the president can help set the public agenda.
However, that is not sufficient to pass legislation. The president also must negotiate with Congress. The Obama administration has not done that enough.
Simultaneously, the Congress must work with the president. Since 2011, Republicans in the House have been able to avoid compromise and merely pass dead-end legislation. Now, by working with the president, the new Republican majority can prove it wants to govern.
Both sides have incentives to sit down and negotiate. They should start now to do so. For the sake of millions of Americans who should be able to afford a college education, clearly it is time.
Richard Davis is a professor of political science at Brigham Young University. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of BYU.