As graduation season wraps up, many high school students are preparing to begin college in the fall. But what about those who can’t afford tuition costs?
It’s no secret that college tuition in the U.S. is among the most expensive in the world. Many young adults begin their post-college careers hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Others chose to not attend college at all, instead opting to work low-paying jobs in an attempt to make ends meet.
Even the lowest-cost schools — community colleges — cost on average $3,730 per year nationally for in-state students, according to the Education Data Initiative. In Massachusetts, that number rises to $5,140. While this may not seem expensive to some, it is extremely costly for families facing poverty or other hardships.
Now tack on necessary school supplies (many textbooks costing hundreds of dollars, laptops thousands), the time commitment that takes potential wage-earning hours from the day, and living expenses — rent, gas, groceries, medicine — and college is out of the question for many.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 40 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds were enrolled in a two- or four-year college program in 2020. In 2016, 83 percent of students from high-income families enrolled in college immediately after high school graduation, while only 67 percent of low-income students and 63 percent of middle-income students enrolled immediately.
The disparities are only getting worse. In Massachusetts, college enrollment rates dropped by 7.2 percent from 2015 to 2020, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Students who do not come from highly wealthy families are clearly at a disadvantage when it comes to higher education. It is up to all of us to close the education gap between low- and high-income families.
There is an obvious solution to all of this: free community college for all. While some might cast the idea aside as an unattainable, liberal daydream, this concept has already begun to play out in 17 states that offer various free tuition programs for qualifying students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
In fact, the City of Boston is expanding its Tuition-Free Community College Plan this fall. Boston students, regardless of age, income, or immigration status, can apply to have three years of tuition and fees covered while earning an associate degree or certificate at select community colleges in the area. Participating students can then go on to earn a bachelor’s degree at a state university through the Boston Bridge program, which uses state funding to cover outstanding tuition costs after federal aid.
In a conversation with North Shore Community College President Dr. William Heineman, he outlined Gov. Maura Healey’s MassReconnect program, which proposes to cover the remaining cost of associate degrees and certificates for Massachusetts residents age 25 and up after other forms of financial aid have been exhausted. The costs of all fees and necessary school supplies would be covered as well.
Heineman also said that the state Senate has proposed another program intended to be launched a year after MassReconnect. This more expansive program would offer tuition assistance to residents of all ages.
“Financing that, the cost of college, is a barrier to a lot of people who aren’t attending now,” he acknowledged.
Heineman said that there seems to be a good deal of support for these programs among the state government, adding that state officials recognize the need to fill widespread labor shortages with qualified workers. He stressed the importance of simplifying the paperwork aspect in setting up these programs to make it as easy as possible for people to apply.
Essentially extending our public school system to include two to four years of college would allow the next generation of students to be more educated, well-rounded, and prepared to make valuable contributions to our economy and society.
Free community college would also offer young adults more of a chance to explore their career interests without having to make a huge financial commitment. According to the Education Data Initiative, 32.9 percent of college students do not complete their degree (amounting to 39 million students in 2020), with 42 percent citing financial pressure as the reason for dropping out and 30 percent stating that their program was not the right fit.
It’s hard to know exactly what you want to do straight out of high school. Having an option that doesn’t come with a massive financial burden can help young adults avoid some of the stress that comes with trying new things and adjusting their career paths accordingly.
With the fate of President Joe Biden’s student-loan forgiveness program looking grim, we need to look at alternatives to tackling our national student-loan debt, which has reached a staggering $1.7 trillion. Making college more affordable — or in this case, free — should be part of that solution.
As a state that so deeply values learning — and a nation that strives to improve life for each new generation — let’s work toward making education accessible to all. We need to give our youth a fighting chance.
Alyssa Cantwell is The Item’s opinion editor. Her column will appear every other week.
