That depends on your state. I assume taxes will go up somewhere for this. It's probably one of the only things you can spend tax money on and gaurantee people will see a return in it. Increasing education rates reduces crime, creates jobs, increases wages and helps keep our nation globally competitive.
No, there should be some cost associated with it. One thing I like about college over high school is that if someone doesn't want to be there then they just don't show up. I don't mind making them a bit cheaper or having special loans just for associate degrees that are very low or no interest but free.......absolutely not. Keep the riff raff out.
If you don't show up your grades go down and you won't qualify for the program. It's no different than a scholarship.
Generous idea, however this may all go the way of Portuguese deja vu which had some of the world's best education but then the only jobs the graduates could find were in sales since nothing was produced.
You do know that "free" isn't really free? This is coming from the taxpayer. This is no different that getting a PELL grant and going to school.
Except we produce a lot more than Portugal and our companies are begging for more skilled workers. The company I work for in particular hires a ton of people from out of country. There aren't enough Americans to hire.
I am fine with that then. I just want some skin in the game to ensure that the amount of losers is kept to a minimum. At the very least they should still pay the admission fees and stuff. I want some proof that they are serious. Otherwise you will have every loser just show up because they think it is just extra high school. With the current system you can go an entire year and waste everyone's time before you lose tuition assistance. You have to maintain a 2.0 but you get a "warning" semester if you go below it. Cost wise since pretty much everyone and their grandma qualifies for student loans I don't seeing it putting additional costs on the system. This idea has been floating around for years so its not exactly new.
Amazing (and amusing) that this should need to be pointed out. Everybody going on and on about "FREE". They never learn. Nothing is free. And I, as a self-supporting tax payer who paid my own way through college, am sick of it. - - - Updated - - - Then why are you and others continuing to use the word FREE?
Ok, what is this going to cover? Looking at it, all it covers is the first two years of a university transfer degree. People who are going for a more technical degree, fire science, nursing, police studies, emergency management etc, etc, etc. wouldn't be under this.
But does he and you really understand what it means. - - - Updated - - - It is free to use, but who is paying for it?
It covers 2 years worth of full time credits. There is no requirement proposed that it's for transferable credits only. Just that the colleges must offer transferable credits in order to quality.
Further on, how is this any different then getting a pell grant? Both of these is coming from the tax payer?
It's weird that you don't know the answer to that question. Tax payers. Same people who pay for all our other free government services. - - - Updated - - - It covers more. That's the difference. Pell grants have barely increased at all compared to college tuition.
You haven't filled for a pell in a while have you? I covered by whole 3 years at a community college in fire science with a pell? And that is probably 15K worth. Give or take. I can't get one again for the community college level but I can file and get another one at the university level.
Why do you believe that would happen? That completely defeats the purpose of this. We need associates degrees and certificates just as much as we need bachelors and masters and PHDs. There is a trade skill shortage as well as a STEM shortage.
Ah good job the tax payer is paying for this. Now think about what the really means. - - - Updated - - - Why? Becouse of Obamas and the Dems history on social programs. Why are they coming out with this now? Not 5 years ago? Why do you think that is?
