Free College. Debt-Free College. Higher Ed Affordability. Whatever You Call It, It’s the First Big Education Issue of the 2020 Campaign
As the contours of the 2020 presidential race begin to take shape, one significant education issue has emerged as a central topic in the growing Democratic primary: the affordability of higher education.
Debbie Cochrane, executive vice president of The Institute for College Access and Success, explained that college affordability and student loan debt are now recognized as crucial concerns that impact families and students across the nation. These issues are increasingly being addressed in major federal policy proposals and presidential campaigns.
According to a poll conducted by the Campaign for Free College Tuition, 81 percent of respondents in November 2018 either strongly or somewhat favored states offering free tuition at public universities. Currently, Americans hold over $1.5 trillion in student loan debt.
Given these figures, it is evident that higher education will be a critical factor for young people, and candidates must establish credibility on this issue, according to Reid Setzer, policy director of Young Invincibles, an advocacy group focusing on healthcare and education for young individuals.
Although all top-tier candidates in the 2020 primary have addressed the issue in some form, there is a division within the field regarding specifics.
Mack Shelley, chair of the political science department at Iowa State University, explains that while advocating for free college may resonate well in 30-second TV ads, the details surrounding these proposals can greatly impact the level of support they receive.
In general, candidates can be categorized into three groups: those supporting free tuition, those advocating for debt-free college, and others who have not taken as strong a stance on the issue. Several candidates have expressed support for multiple proposals.
Leading the "free tuition" camp is Sen. Bernie Sanders, who introduced the College for All Act. This legislation aims to eliminate tuition and fees at public colleges for students from families earning less than $125,000 per year. It also seeks to end tuition and fees at community colleges for all students. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris have co-sponsored this bill, and Vice President Joe Biden, who has not yet officially declared his candidacy, falls into the free tuition group as well.
The "debt-free" college camp includes Harris, Warren, and Sen. Cory Booker, who have all co-sponsored the Debt-Free College Act. This bill not only covers tuition and fees but also includes living expenses, textbooks, and meal plans in the overall costs. However, instead of providing universally available aid, grants would be targeted towards needier students, with wealthier families expected to contribute according to their means.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, and former representative Beto O’Rourke fall into the "other" category at this point. Klobuchar supports free community college and expanding federal aid programs but does not advocate for four-year college for all. Buttigieg focuses on expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and addressing student debt through alternative means, without explicitly endorsing free tuition or debt-free college. O’Rourke is not in favor of free tuition for four-year colleges at this time but emphasizes debt-free options for education, including trade schools and apprenticeships.
As the race intensifies and candidates aim to define themselves on this issue, all eyes will be on New Hampshire, which holds the first primary. The state’s high in-state tuition, the second-highest in the country at $16,460 for the current academic year, makes higher education affordability a particularly potent issue in the Granite State. This issue, along with climate change and voting rights, is expected to be one of the top three concerns for young people. It may ultimately determine the level of support for candidates, according to Amelia Keane, executive director of New Hampshire Young Democrats.
Issues specific to New Hampshire, such as the opioid crisis in 2016, often gain national recognition due to the state’s early placement in the electoral calendar. Keane expressed the hope that college affordability will receive similar attention nationally, shining a spotlight on the issue rather than focusing solely on the drug problem.
Beyond the campaign trail, the issue of higher education affordability will remain at the forefront for the many candidates who are also members of Congress. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is currently a top priority for education committees in Congress.
College affordability activists understand the importance of providing specific details when discussing the concept of "free college." Simply advocating for "free college" without considering the finer points is insufficient.
While there is value in promoting the idea of universal free college without income caps, it would not be worth sacrificing the allocation of resources to students who require them the most. In other words, it is not a worthwhile trade-off.
Universal free college programs create an expectation among high school students that they will receive the necessary financial support to attend college. This widespread belief helps generate support from a larger population. However, in situations where funding is limited, a program available to everyone may result in the distribution of resources away from those students who are in the greatest need.
Richard Reeves, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, emphasized the importance of expressing ideas succinctly to cut through the noise of a discussion. However, he also highlighted the danger of oversimplifying the complexity of the problem that the concept of "free college" aims to address.
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