Access to College in New York—and Beyond

It’s that time of year, when many high school seniors are making a choice that will significantly shape their futures: Where to attend college? Increasingly, another decision is having even more of an impact on future hopes and dreams: How to pay for it?

Debt from higher learning has been steadily rising over the past two decades. According to Money magazine, about half of bachelor’s degree recipients graduated with an average of $10,000 in debt 20 years ago. In 2016, more than two-thirds of graduates left school in debt, averaging a whopping $35,000. 

That’s why some free-tuition advocates hailed the agreement announced recently between New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders. In the plan, the state would cover tuition costs at the City University of New York and State University of New York systems for families earning up to $125,000. The plan will be phased in over three years beginning this fall, and Cuomo estimates 940,000 families will benefit once fully established. 

There are provisions: Graduates must live and work in New York for as long as they receive free tuition. Students must also be enrolled full time and maintain minimum grade point averages. Additionally, the plan establishes a grant program for students who attend private colleges in New York, as long as the college matches it.

Some proponents of tuition-free college say that New York’s plan doesn’t go far enough: It doesn’t cover non-tuition costs such as living expenses or allow for part-time or interrupted studies, contexts that many low-income students find themselves in. 

At the federal level, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal recently introduced legislation called the College for All Act. The bill proposes making all public colleges and universities free to families with incomes up to $125,000, making tuition free for all in-state students at community colleges and cutting student loan interest rates in half.

According to The Washington Post, there are also at least 85 initiatives at municipal and state levels to provide tuition-free education at community colleges; Tennessee, Oregon and Minnesota already offer it.

Proponents argue that a tuition-free college education, particularly given modern workforce expectations, should be a right similar to secondary education. Free-tuition plans such as New York’s would increase access to higher learning for low-income students and students of color. Without the crushing burden of debt, more students would have the economic freedom to pursue further education, make employment choices based on passion rather than solely on income, and build their financial stability. 

There are many reasons why tuition has risen so dramatically, including the increase in the number of people attending college and the amount of money states spend per pupil. But it is clear that these tuition-free proposals are shifting people’s attitudes about college degrees and the right for all people to have the opportunity to earn one, as well as the potential for community colleges in particular to play an important role.

If there was any question about how deeply college debt is affecting graduates, it was answered recently by lawsuits filed in Illinois and Washington. These states contend that one of the nation’s largest student loan companies engaged in predatory lending. Using practices similar to those which led to the mortgage crisis, Navient (a spinoff of lending giant Sallie Mae) allegedly used subprime loans knowing that many of its customers would be unable to repay those loans. Navient is also being charged with sloppy accounting and misleading tactics that have left thousands of people even further in debt.

Perhaps a generation from now, high school students will be able to focus solely on their futures, not their future debt.

This blog was produced in partnership with the anti-hate news project 500 Pens.

Applegate is a journalist, editor and storyteller who focuses on youth, family and social justice issues.