A college education is one of the most expensive financial endeavors of people’s lives. People pay thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars just for undergraduate education. Paying this kind of money puts most families and students in debt, digging them into a hole that they need to try and climb out of.
On January 3, Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed the Excelsior Program, which would offer eligible New York residents free tuition to all SUNY and CUNY schools. Cuomo proposed the plan in his State of the State speech in an attempt to get more college-age individuals to get a degree and a higher education.
Governor Cuomo believes that having a college education is a necessity in today’s economy. In fact, the NYS Labor Department has data showing that within the next seven years, 3.5 million new jobs will require at least an associate’s degree. He believes that the financial burden that college can pose is large enough that it prevents people from getting a higher-level education. “A college education is not a luxury—it is an absolute necessity for any chance at economic mobility, and with these first-in-the-nation Excelsior Scholarships, we’re providing the opportunity for New Yorkers to succeed, no matter what zip code they come from and without the anchor of student debt weighing them down,” Cuomo said.
With this proposed plan, Cuomo hopes that more lower-income students will attend college and get degrees, which would enable them to get higher-paying jobs and achieve financial security.
The cost of an in-state SUNY education has increased over the past decade from about $13,000 a year to around $25,000. This 55 percent increase has contributed to student debts. Senator Bernie Sanders ran his presidential campaign on the idea that he would seek to lower the over $1.2 trillion debt held by the public by providing lower college tuitions, which generated immense praise from college-aged voters. Sanders was present when Cuomo proposed the bill and spoke out about his support for the plan.
As for the plan itself, Cuomo released his $152 billion state budget on January 17, which set aside $163 million for free SUNY tuition for eligible students. Cuomo outlined a plan that will take three years to implement, meaning that households that make $100,000 or less could be eligible for free tuition during the first year after the plan is approved, those that make $110,000 or less could be eligible the second year, and those that make $125,000 eligible by the third year. Cuomo said, “This is about helping the middle class… They’ve gotten hit on every front, and the government that’s supposed to help them has become disconnected.” Governor Cuomo estimates that 80 percent of households in New York State make $125,000 or less and would thus be eligible for his plan.
A proposal of this magnitude does not arrive without plenty of thought and consideration. Obviously, an upside to the proposal is the fact that people would not have to go into as much, if any, debt from student loans. There will still be expenses, such as food and room and board, among others, but the cost would be much more manageable for low-income households, many of which are minority as well. Cuomo hopes to diversify college campuses and the future workforce and believes that, by reducing the financial strain on lower- and middle- class families, college would be more accessible for students who may not have gone to college due to the costs. “It’s like starting a race with an anchor tied to your leg,” Cuomo said.
The Excelsior Program has its fair share of doubters. One of the plan’s strongest group of opponents is the private sector of education. Private schools feel that, if state-funded schools lower their tuition, it would create incentives not to attend the private schools. Also, with more enrollment in state schools, the state would need to spend more money to fund salaries, infrastructure, and maintenance of the schools. These costs could increase substantially, as the Cuomo administration projected that state-school enrollment will increase by 10 percent by 2019. Additionally, one of the biggest issues up for debate is the funding. The plan would likely include tax hikes throughout the state, and a government watchdog group called Reclaim New York told The Buffalo News, “You don’t need a college degree to know that nothing is free.’’ The Cuomo administration has not yet released a comprehensive funding plan, and the mystery and uncertainty has even students doubtful.
There is also the issue of unequal distribution of financial aid. The New York Times spoke with Katie Montwill, a junior at Stony Brook University. Montwill said that, even though the proposal is “pretty awesome,” she was not sure how the program would be funded or how the tax dollars would be spent, saying “I feel like my parents wouldn’t be for it.” Montwill believed that her parents wouldn’t want their tax dollars funding another student’s education.
Even with the legion of unconvinced people, Cuomo has high hopes for the Excelsior Program. Cuomo said that it is a daunting task to defeat student debt and promote diversity and enrollment in colleges, but the impacts of the Program could be immense. With the proposed program, the governor believes that New York could be a “City on the Hill,” setting the bar high in education policy. Sanders shared the belief, saying, “Here’s my prediction: if New York State does it this year, mark my words, state after state will follow.”