Students share reactions to Clinton’s college affordability plan

But college costs shouldn’t saddle hardworking students with impossible debt that anchors them down, limiting choices and making it more hard to pursue modest-paying but rewarding careers, buy a house or choose a partner without regard for income. The cost of attendance (defined as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other living expenses such as transportation and laundry) and the resulting net price are important measures of affordability. The overwhelming majority either take out student loans to pay for school or come from families with an income that qualifies them for federal Pell grants.

Despite her various titles over the years, Hillary Clinton is at heart a policy wonk. The proposal repeats a exhausted formula favored by both major parties: Make a few tweaks to the current failed system and then rebrand it under a different name and sell it as new thinking.

Darren McCollester-Getty Images Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton hosts a grassroots organizing event at McIntyre Ski Area August 10, 2015 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has proposed giving all college students entry to debt-free school at in-state universities inside 5 years. The plan also includes incentives to reduce the cost of a full degree and lower interest rates on student loans.

For many college students, their households will nonetheless be anticipated to make a “real looking” contribution, say Clinton’s aides, and college students will contribute wages from ten hours of labor per week. “Some of the Democratic candidates have talked about debt-free college, but the focus has been primarily on public institutions and community colleges, not so much on HBCUs”. That would reverse the trend in declining state support and strengthen efforts to hold down public college costs.

The price of Clinton’s plan can be offset by capping itemized tax deductions for rich households at 28 %, like these taken by high-income taxpayers for charitable contributions and mortgage curiosity.

Of course the big question, as with all new liberal programs, is who is going to pay for all of this. Her campaign estimates it would create 250,000 additional spaces for the children of students. Supporters noted that HBCUs have gotten some of the political spotlight in recent years, with President Obama signing an executive order that established an HBCU initiative and called for Congress to give $2 billion to black colleges in 2010. Future students and students taking out loans to attend private colleges would also be able to avail themselves of the program. This represents a fraction of one percent of yearly government spending, less than we spend on tax breaks for just 20 corporations. Marco Rubio called it “Obamacare for college”.

Sallie Mae announced in December 2001 that it was acquiring Pioneer Credit Recovery Inc., a student loan debt collection service based in Arcade, New York. “To succeed, we need trained managers and dedicated employees”. Most of the time, students are told that college is a key to finding employment and the only path out of poverty. She just wants someone other than students to pay the growing bill.