President Barack Obama announced Jan. 8 his proposal for “America’s College Promise,” a program that would pay for two years of community college education for students who maintain a 2.5 GPA and attend classes at least part-time.
According to the Northwest Arkansas Community College Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Steven Hinds, the idea of making two years of community college free is still something being discussed.
“We think it could have a very positive impact, and we believe, in general, that it’s a real bonus that this discussion is placing increased focus on the important role community colleges play in educating our citizens,” said Hinds.
The original announcement indicated that the overall cost $60 billion spread over ten years, and the federal government would fund 75 percent of the costs and the states would be responsible for the other 25 percent; however, a limited state budget will require decision-makers to look carefully at the expenditure.
The date that the program will go into effect and how it will affect current students at NWACC and other community colleges is unknown. If the free tuition plan is instated, an influx in the student population is expected.
“While an enrollment increase would be expected, it’s not possible to say with precision what kind of increase we would experience. We can say that in previous years, the college experienced double-digit growth in enrollment and was able to handle the influx well,” said Hinds.
According to a report from 4029 News, the average community college tuition is $3,300, and the plan would help nine million students save an average of $3,800 a year.
“We know that we offer a high-quality education that’s affordable and accessible for all,” said Hinds. “The advantages of attending a community college in general are that the tuition and fees are lower than students find at a four-year institution and most of the time the community college is able to offer smaller class sizes that enable a better teacher-student ratio.”
For prospective students like senior Shae Pilcher and Veronica De La Torre, NWACC is the best option for the career path in cosmetology they’re both planning to pursue. Pilcher has heard great things about NWACC and hopes to attend because of the low cost of tuition and the smaller learning environment.
“I believe that [free tuition] would be smart for people who can’t afford college right out of high school, and it would help lots of people get on their feet if they took it seriously,” said Pilcher.
De La Torre will use NWACC as a foundation of higher education to complete basic and core courses after she graduates from the high school cosmetology program.
“I think [free tuition] is a great opportunity. I think it will encourage more students to go to college,” said De La Torre.
According to the Community College Research Center, while 81% of entering community college students indicate they want a bachelor’s degree or higher, only 25% of entering students actually transfer to a four-year institution within five years.
“I think it would push people to really think about their future and be able to make more of themselves than a minimum wage worker,” said Pilcher.