Des Moines Register, IA
12-11-07
Candidates divided on need to cut college cost
By LISA ROSSI
REGISTER AMES BUREAU
It's a cry increasingly heard among several Democrats in Iowa aspiring to the
presidency: Community college should essentially be free.
Republican candidates, however, are torn between wanting to reduce the federal
government's role in education and looking for ways to expand access to college.
Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Barack Obama,
Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden are among those who have rolled out plans that
could pay for a portion, or all, of a person's community college tuition. Some
plans also include money for fees and other costs.
Democrat Bill Richardson's plan offers two years of loan forgiveness of tuition
and fees in exchange for each year of national service, an offer that extends to
graduates from post-secondary institutions at all academic levels, including
community colleges.
Most Republican candidates said they opposed plans for essentially free
community college, and have instead emphasized ways the federal government
could make it easier for families to save money to pay for college.
For example, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said he would cut the tax
rate on interest, dividends and capital gains earned by households making less
than $200,000 per year to zero, which he said would help parents save for
college.
John McCain also is among those who have said he wants to keep taxes low to
make it easier for families to pay for college.
The debate comes as tuition nationwide has increased at a rate faster than
inflation, albeit more quickly at public four-year institutions than community
colleges, according to the Project on Student Debt.
College debt is a hot topic in Iowa. Students at Iowa State University typically
graduate with more than $30,000 in loans, according to a report last year from
the Iowa Board of Regents. That's more than the national average of about
$19,646 in debt for students who graduated in 2006, the Project on Student Debt
reported.
Increasingly, more Iowa students are turning to lower-cost community colleges
for their first two years of study.
Some top advocates warn that some states' programs for low- to no-tuition
community colleges haven't resulted in higher graduation rates.
"The free community college can sound good," said Robert Shireman, executive
director of the Project on Student Debt. "We essentially have no- tuition, no-fee
community colleges in California, and we do not have in California a high college
completion rate."
Community college students in California have the impression that they should
be able to pay their living expenses and other costs without borrowing, said
Shireman, who said he has not endorsed anyone for president.
"People end up working too much, because they have that impression,"
Shireman said. He said students also mistakenly believe they will not qualify for
financial aid because their fees were waived.
Shireman, who said he worked with Edwards in 2004 on his plans related to
college costs, said students can take out low-interest loans for other expenses.
He also said students who are going to be successful are the ones who attend
college full-time, and don't work too much.
Part of Edwards' 2008 plan to deal with college costs creates a "college for
everyone" initiative that would pay one year of public-college tuition, fees, and
books for more than 2 million qualified students, which includes community
college.
An Obama aide noted that California community college leaders have said lack
of preparation is a major reason why community college students didn't succeed
there. Obama has proposed an $18 billion plan for K-12 education that would
address the concerns of preparation for those entering community college, his
campaign said.
College students would be eligible for Obama's proposed $4,000 tax credit each
year they attend school. That credit has the effect of making community college
free, but can go toward paying for upper levels of education as well, the Obama
campaign said.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is among the Republican candidates who
oppose such proposals.
"It would be tremendously expensive, and our next president needs to work with
Congress to reduce spending and get our budget and national debt back under
control," Huckabee wrote in an e-mail.
"Tuition assistance from the government in the form of scholarships and grants is
something that students should earn through hard work and good grades in high
school," he added. "It's not something that every American should be entitled to
without proving their merit as scholars."
Iowa voters interested in education debt are mixed on the merits of free
community college.
Virginia Blackburn, an Iowa State University associate professor of
management, opposes plans of that sort.
"I don't think we can do that, nor do I think we should," said Blackburn, who
studies student credit card debt, and plans to caucus for Clinton because the
New York senator has acknowledged the national debt is a problem.
Blackburn said she wants the federal government to set a better example for the
students and families who spend more than they make.
She also said she didn't think college was necessary for everyone.
"I think a lot of people who would not have normally considered college feel like
they have to go, to get their ticket punched," she said. "It's gotten to the point
where that's the new high school. Is that a smart place for us to be?"
Lee Skeens, a psychology professor at Southeastern Community College in
West Burlington, said he likes Richardson's ideas for easing college debt, which
he said were "not only comprehensive, but also based on a model he put in place
in his state," he said.
"It's not that I dislike other plans; I like the fact this one has a track record of
success," said Skeens, a Democrat.
Reporter Lisa Rossi can be reached at (515) 232-2383 or lrossi@dmreg.c