President proposes free college

Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

President Barack Obama on Friday proposed to bring the cost of two years of community college “down to zero” for all Americans, an ambitious nationwide plan based on a popular Tennessee program signed into law by that state’s Republican governor.

However, the idea and its $60 billion federal price tag over 10 years would have to make the grade with a Republican Congress that is showing little appetite for big new spending programs. Obama, who plans to push the issue in his Jan. 20 State of the Union address, argued that providing educational opportunity and creating a more-skilled U.S. workforce shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

“Community college should be free for those willing to work for it because, in America, a quality education should not be a privilege that is reserved for a few,” he said in a speech at Pellissippi State Community College. He said a high-school diploma is no longer enough for American workers to compete in the global economy and that a college degree is “the surest ticket to the middle class.”

The White House estimated that 9 million students eventually could participate and save an average of $3,800 in tuition per year if they attend full time. Students would qualify if they attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 grade-point average and make progress toward completing a degree or certificate program. Participating schools would have to meet certain academic requirements.

At North Lake College, part of the Dallas County Community College system, student Courtney Banks said such a program would help her and also allow others to enroll in classes.

“Other people, other young adults would be willing to get into school because it wouldn’t be so far out of reach,” she said. She added she’s still trying to pay back loans from a previous school. “It costs a lot of money,” she said.

The White House said the federal government would pick up 75 percent of the cost, and the final quarter would come from states that opt into the program — a cost of $20 billion over 10 years. Spokesman Eric Schultz said Obama will propose new programs to pay for the federal portion in his budget next month.

Obama is calling the idea America’s College Promise, modeled after Tennessee Promise, which Republican Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law last year.