In NH, Clinton argues for free college

On Wednesday, September 29 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appeared at the University of New Hampshire with her former rival, Senator Bernie Sanders.  One major topic at the rally was making public colleges tuition-free for families earning under $125,000 per year.

“When you talk about public education, it’s no longer good enough to talk about first grade through high school,” said Sanders. “That was good 30 or 40 years ago, it is not enough today. Today when we talk about public education, it must be making public colleges and universities tuition free for the middle class and working families of this country.” 

According to Clinton’s website, “This plan will be fully paid for by limiting certain tax expenditures for high-income taxpayers.”  She also says that states will need to increase funding for their universities.  

Free tuition may be particularly appealing to students in New Hampshire, who have the second highest average student loan debt in the nation.  

Opponents of the free tuition plan argue that the cost is far too high, especially considering the national debt is over $19 trillion. 

According to Andrew Kelly of the American Enterprise Institute, “Transferring costs away from students onto taxpayers would lower tuition prices while allowing schools to continue operating under their current wasteful cost structures. An influx of new funding might actually lead them to pay less attention to cost-effectiveness than they do now.” 

Other opponents argue that the plan is too indiscriminate. 

“Many students can afford to pay a considerable amount toward their higher education. It is wasteful to give them a free ride,” economist Eric Maskin told NPR. 

Do you support free college tuition?  Let us know in the comments.