On Friday, Jan. 9, President Barack Obama announced a proposal created to provide two free years of community college to students.
The proposal, named America’s College Promise, enables students to begin a four year degree with two free years at community college, as long as they maintain a 2.5 grade point average and continue productivity towards a degree.
If all states participate, according to a White House press release, 9 million students would benefit and, as full time students, would save $3,800 in tuition each year. The plan is patterned after current programs in place in Tennessee and Chicago.
The program still needs to get through the Republican-dominated congress. Some in congress have expressed the opinion that the program, while successful in Tennessee, is best kept at the state and local level, rather than federal.
“Unless the president has a responsible plan to meet our existing commitments, he shouldn’t be making new promises the American people can’t afford,” Republican congressman for Minnesota, John Kline, said to USA Today.
The cost posed to the federal government is estimated at $60 billion in 10 years.
If the program is passed, community colleges would have to then meet requirements regarding the strength of their programs and the need to increase their graduation numbers.