Michigan will provide tuition-free community college to its recent high school graduates. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an education budget plan earlier this week. The administration says the state will be able to cover tuition costs for associate degrees and skilled certificates beginning in the Fall.
“In Michigan, we want every single person to be able to get onto the path that is best for them,” Whitmer said, the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY network, reported.
The Whitmer administration estimated that its free community college program will save money for over 18,000 students, up to $4,800 per student each year.
Michigan is one of at least 30 states to offer a version of free community college. Those eligible for Michigan’s program must enroll in college full-time and fill out federal student aid form. The program is not dependent on a student’s household income.
The following states have tuition-free community college programs:
These states cover the cost of community college tuition
More than 30 states offer a version of tuition-free community college. Students who are starting out in higher education, looking to to earn certificates or wanting to pursue a skilled trade have the opportunity to do so without going into debt.
Outside of Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, and New Hampshire are the latest states to implement free college, according to BestColleges. Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire’s programs will begin this fall. Colorado’s program will take effect in 2025.
Graphics explain: How are college costs adding up these days and how much has tuition risen?
Free community college programs are often called “promise programs.” While the programs significantly reduce costs, they often do not cover other expenses like room and board, transportation and book fees..
Eligibility for these programs differ by state. Often, those who qualify must graduate from an in-state high school and enroll full time. Other qualifications may include academic performance or financial need, Bankrate reported.
Michigan state officials say funding for its Michigan Achievement Scholarship would allow every recent high school graduate to receive an associate degree or skilled certificate at a community college for free. Unlike other states, Michigan says most students qualify for its community college guarantee program.
Students struggle to cover tuition costs
Tuition bills for the upcoming academic year are already here, but only 4% of Gen Z students say they’re fully funded for the entire school year, USA TODAY recently reported.
College costs have risen exponentially over the past several decades, outpacing both inflation and wages, experts say.
Since 1998, the cost of a college education has grown by 188%, a rate faster than practically all goods and services and inflation-adjusted hourly wages, according to Research.com. During the same time period, wages increased 26%.
As of June, 90% of college-bound Gen Z students said they don’t yet know how they’ll fully pay for school, according to a poll of 9,097 students surveyed by the application site ScholarshipOwl. A fifth said they still needed more than $20,000 to meet the year’s tuition.
What are the outcomes of states that cover community colleges?
The average cost of an undergraduate degree ranges from $25,707 to more than $218,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. The price varies and depends on whether a student lives on campus and the type of institution they’re attending.
Many students will have to take out loans to afford higher education. The weight of those loans can often dictate the types of careers students pursue and the opportunities they will have access to after graduating.
Research from the Federal Trade Commission found that offering free community college increased enrollment by 26% and degree completions by 20%.
Early data from the Tennessee Promise Program – the first free community college program in the U.S.- suggests that more students are enrolling into community college, and more are also persisting in it, according to the study.
Contributing: Medora Lee, USA TODAY
Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/07/27/states-with-free-community-college/74536008007/
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Publish date : 2024-07-27 11:26:11
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