Affordability / Quality

Providing “free college” programs is growing in popularity as more states seek to implement their own versions. But what can assure skeptics that these programs are as politically sustainable as they are politically popular?
Jen Mishory of The Century Foundation examines the fiscal sustainability of these plans. Looking at six free college programs that existed during the Great Recession, Mishory shows how they retained their financial and political support even as states were cutting other aid programs and education spending.

Policymakers looking at free or debt free college plans must also ensure their proposals are not overly restrictive or based on inaccurate assumptions about students. Sara Garcia at the Center for American Progress lays out the four key principles that these free community college programs should consider as more states seek to increase college access.

A new report by Ed Reform Now analyzes public higher education in the Bay State and reveals that the Latino graduation gap ranks 37th in the country.
Michael Dannenberg and Konrad Mugglestone examine how the Massachusetts higher education system is undeserving its Latino students and other students of color, and look at the research to give recommendations on how to improve college affordability and completion for these students.

Many states have taken up the cause of providing free community college programs for their residents in the midst of rising student debt and costs of college. However, many programs are mirroring eligibility requirements that may be counter-productive to their mission of increasing college access for those most in need of it.
Jen Mishory of The Century Foundation continues her analysis of these free college programs proposed in the states.

Open textbooks initiatives – a nationwide effort to replace high-cost publisher materials with free materials that can be accessed online or downloaded – have taken a significant step forward. For the first time, Congress has funded $5 million to support these initiatives nationwide. Kaitlyn Vitez of U.S. PIRG breaks-down what this victory means for students and their advocates trying to bring down the overall price of college attendance.