What if 2-year colleges were free?

[sanantone]

That's what Tennessee and Oregon are considering. The push in Tennessee is coming from its Republican governor. I also thought this was interesting.

California had junior colleges without tuition or fees for decades, and the City University of New York did not charge for either two- or four-year colleges until the 1970s.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/educat...=education
Oregon looks at free community college tuition | KOIN.com

[cookderosa]

That's what Tennessee and Oregon are considering. The push in Tennessee is coming from its Republican governor. I also thought this was interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/educat...=education
Oregon looks at free community college tuition | KOIN.com

Uhhhh, taxes go up? LOL

[UptonSinclair]

I grew up in California when community college courses cost $19 per credit. If I weren't such a moron at 19 I could have had a cheap degree. I would be more than willing to pay more property taxes so that anyone could attend the local community college for free. At least that way it wouldn't be the GI Bill sponge that it is now.

[sanantone]

It would be nice if the state governments had more control over how public colleges set tuition rates. Since community colleges are already heavily subsidized by taxes and federal and state grants already cover all of the tuition at most CCs, I think it would make sense to just combine all of the funding sources to make the colleges free.

[Getiton1]

What, and thus make less room for corruption? Gasp!

Okay, anyone over the age of 30…have you noticed that Colleges now make it so hard to actually know what you are going to end up paying to finish your degree? Two year schools are not that bad, but Bachelors level and above have seemed to hire all the old telemarketers to "sell" you on their school. I hate it. I don't want to be "sold" an education, as if it was someone trying to make me join their pyramid scheme. I find it so distasteful and insulting. Since when do we need to be "sold" on a school? I really think education, especially higher education should be based on merit. I think all the money these schools are spending on marketing is inflating the already enourmous college bubble. I am just SO glad I didn't fall for the pitch of some of the more "fancy" and expensive schools. I would have probably lost my house by now if I ended up going to some of the schools I got into. I think going to a free or 2 year community college is smart. I think taking DSST's, CLEP's and pretty much all of the other alternative ways to learning and earning college credit are even smarter. I mean, unless you NEED an ivy league degree or you HAVE to have the Ivy League notoriety for some reason, or you get some kind of mad money to pay for these kinds of high cost higher education schemes…you are wasting your money. This is not to say if you are truly brilliant and you need the challenge and some of the resources an Ivy can offer you that I don't support that decision. I actually would. All I am saying is, if you are not sure what you want to do, are pretty average in intelligence, and don't have a rich uncle or mad money laying around a 2 year college and/or testing out is the way to go. You will save THOUSANDS of dollars and because you pretty much have to teach yourself, you will likely learn/retain more because you have to find the right resources.

I support affordable higher education. It would be nice if there were MORE elite non-for-profit Universities. Cooper Union comes to mind as a good example.

It would be nice if the state governments had more control over how public colleges set tuition rates. Since community colleges are already heavily subsidized by taxes and federal and state grants already cover all of the tuition at most CCs, I think it would make sense to just combine all of the funding sources to make the colleges free.

[soliloquy]

I think much of the Ivy League tuition is charged for the opportunity to rub elbows with the elite and their offspring (networking).

[cookderosa]

You can earn an AA/AS at any CC in this country now for $10k or less. For those will a Pell Grant, the out of pocket cost will be zero. For those who attend Dual Enrollment programs in high school, the cost will be zero/reduced tuition. For those who attend a high school articulation tech program, the cost will be zero. For adult learners who do not have a high school diploma, GED programs cost zero.

How many students do you think already qualify for free tuition? Many. There isn't data on that stat, however, the national average CC graduation rate for everyone is hovering around 10%. I like to look at those two facts side by side. When asked if "my" tax dollars should go to fund the other segment who currently are not qualifying for free tuition, I'd simply ask why? Free doesn't drive quality, does it improve retention? The assumption -maybe- is that if it were free, that more people would take advantage of the opportunity? Higher graduation rates? Currently, CCs have an open door admission policy. EVEN IF you have to take out a student loan to pay for your degree, borrowing the full amount, you're MILES ahead of anyone borrowing to attend a university. I don't get it. It's like saying items from the Dollar Tree should go on sale.

[sanantone]

I have a theory on the low graduation rates at CCs. Currently, CCs attract a lot of people who are looking to transfer to 4-year colleges. They don't even bother to finish the associates requirements or even apply for graduation. That's why some CCs are trying to get students to come back and apply for their associates after graduating with their bachelors. I think it's a stupid policy because who's going to care about an associates after receiving a bachelors in the same subject? But, the schools know that many of their students go on to graduate with a degree. I would be counted by the CCs I attended as someone who did not graduate, but who cares? I'm working on a PhD.