New York students can apply for free college tuition June 7

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 10:04 am, Monday, May 29, 2017

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York college students can apply for the state's free tuition plan beginning June 7.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Board of Trustees approved Excelsior Scholarship regulations last week.

The initiative was a key priority for Cuomo. It covers tuition at state universities for full-time, in-state students whose families earn $125,000 or less.

Students must pay out of pocket for room, board and other expenses.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/New-York-students-can-apply-for-free-college-11180227.php

[sandensea]

1. That's how it works in most other developed countries.

Even some developing ones like Argentina. The state covers tuition, you take care of room, board, books, and the rest of it.

Some even offer low-cost loans and/or grants to low-income families for the non-tuition expenses (which, as you know, can often be at least as much as the tuition itself).

Good for Governor Cuomo.

[DorothyG]

2. Why is tuition sacred and covered

but room/board/books is not?

[sandensea]

3. Good question.

I brought up Argentina because it's notable that a middle-income country whose per capita GDP is only 1/4 of the U.S. would cover not only tuition but, beginning in 2014, any other college related expenses up to around $100 a month (which goes further there than it does here).

At its height in 2015 it benefited nearly a million students - including some high schoolers - and was budgeted at $600 million. It's means-tested and subject to compliance by the student.

The program, PROGRESAR, was enacted by former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner - who was hated by Argentine right-wingers in much the same way Obama was here. Her right-wing successor has made cutbacks to it (it now covers one third fewer students); but he's been unable to rescind it due to its popularity.

So it goes without saying that we in the U.S. could EASILY afford something at least that comprehensive. Federal and state gov'ts in fact ALREADY pay for two-third of our college costs - except most of that's in the form of loans.

There's only one real reason we can't help our young people with college expenses like many other countries do: