The case for tuition-free community college
KATIE COOPER: In an attempt to lower the price tag of the Build Back Better plan, the White House has cut tuition-free community college from the spending bill. The decision to sacrifice tuition free community college in exchange for a cheaper spending bill may end up costing the American government more in the long run in unemployment benefits and economic stimuli.
The Build Back Better Plan encompasses much of Biden’s first term domestic policy goals, such as combating climate change, expanding Medicare, universal pre-K, and cutting prescription drug prices, just to name a few. The plan also included tuition-free community college, which would entail the federal government giving billions of dollars to states in order to eliminate tuition at community colleges. The plan was estimated to cost $45.5 billion per year and benefit 8 million students. While some states have existing plans to cover free community college, these opportunities are not consistent across the United States. Current avenues of financial aid can often be confusing and difficult for families to navigate, which is important to consider given that community colleges often serve students that have other obligations, such as working or taking care of a family. Studies have also shown that eliminating the cost of community college entirely is more effective than financial aid opportunities in incentivizing enrollment. Tuition-free community college is estimated to increase higher education attendance by 26%, and 86% of the increase at the community college level would be composed of students who otherwise would not have attended college. Research also suggested a 22% increase in degree completion. Therefore, tuition-free community college would eliminate barriers for all students and incentivize more students to attend community college and complete their degree.
Tuition-free community college has many benefits on personal and economic levels. Attending any form of education beyond a high school diploma increases potential earnings and decreases unemployment, as median weekly earnings increase from $746 with a high school diploma to $887 with an associate’s degree, which yields a yearly income with an associate’s degree roughly $7,000 higher than with a high school diploma. An increase in disposable income logically decreases the chances of food or housing insecurity, improving overall welfare in society. Consequently, less Americans would qualify for welfare due to tuition-free community college, which would actually save the government money in the long run. Concerning the unemployment rate, the unemployment rate for those with a high school diploma is 3.7%, while it is a point lower for those with an associate’s degree at 2.7%. Attending community college also increases the likelihood of attending and graduating from a four-year university, and a bachelor’s degree continues to increase future earnings and decrease unemployment. Seeing the potential of tuition-free community college stimulating the economy and improving overall welfare through reducing unemployment and increasing disposable incomes, it is obvious that abandoning this agenda is a large mistake on behalf of the Biden administration.
Free community college was an important aspect of Biden’s campaign promise, thus it is extremely disappointing to Democrats to witness this policy not make the final spending bill. Dropping tuition-free community college from Build Back Better may have negative political repercussions for the Biden administration and Democrats in general, as the reneging of this deal will be useful fodder against the efficiency of the Biden administration in upcoming legislation and elections.
Katie Cooper is the current Co-Social Media Director for On The Record. A sophomore in the School of Foreign Service majoring in International Political Economy with a double minor in International Development and Spanish, she is from Leawood, Kansas.