Obama’s SOTU speech to include affordable higher education plan

Global Business

Among the proposals in tonight’s State of the Union is one centering around education. The plan would make two-year community colleges in the U.S. free to students who maintain a certain grade point average.

Supporters of the idea said it would improve access to education at a time when education is more important than ever. Critics are worried about the price tag, and just who would benefit from the plan. CCTV America’s Hendrik Sybrandy reported this story from Denver.

Obama's SOTU speech to include affordable higher education plan

Among the proposals in tonight's State of the Union is one centering around education. The plan would make two-year community colleges in the U.S. free to students who maintain a certain grade point average. Supporters of the idea said it would improve access to education at a time when education is more important than ever. Critics are worried about the price tag, and just who would benefit from the plan. CCTV America's Hendrik Sybrandy reported this story from Denver.

It’s orientation day for international students at the Community College of Denver, a two-year school that’s designed to help students compete for 21st century jobs or prepare them for a four-year university.

“All jobs are going to require some level of two-year education above high school, and that’s where we come in, to provide that education,” college president Everette Freeman said.

Community colleges are already cheaper than most U.S. universities and Federal Pell Grants already many of the students pay their tuition and fees.

Obama hopes to make community colleges free for all students, with the federal government paying three-quarters of the educational bill, or $60 billion over 10 years. U.S. states would pay the reming if they opt into the program.

But proposal comes with a price tag, and some believe that states like Colorado, that has a balanced budget requirement, won’t be able to afford the new plan.

“I guess I’m kind of unsure at the state level where we would come up with the extra money to pay for a new program of this size,” Colorado House Republican Leader Brian DelGrosso said, “Any dollar that we would spend on a new program, we have to take away from somewhere else.”

The White House estimated that 9 million Americans could eventually participate in the program, while others said only higher-income students would really benefit.

“Where we can get support to help students not only to be in school but to stay in school, it’s win for the students. It’s a win for the community and a win for the country,” Freeman said.


Shai Reshef of University of the People discusses higher education

CCTV America interviewed Shai Reshef, the founder and president of University of the People, the world’s first tuition-free and non-profit online academic institution, about how students can afford college.

Shai Reshef of University of the People discusses higher education

CCTV America interviewed Shai Reshef, the founder and president of University of the People, the world's first tuition-free and non-profit online academic institution, about how students can afford college.