Free College: A Three-Part Series
While conversations around the merits and drawbacks of free college may have taken a backseat due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, experts believe the movement is here to stay — and perhaps more important than ever.
This three-part series about free college programs through the lens of financial aid includes a deep dive into the current landscape of free college and how different programs are structured, an examination into how free college programs are currently funded and the case for national free college supported by a federal-state partnership, and a close look into the messaging and communication issues that have plagued programs across the country.
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Part 1: Confused About What Free College Entails? So Is Everyone Else
May 11, 2020 - As it appears that free college is here to stay, the future of what that might look like as a whole for higher education remains murky. -
Part 2: Can We Afford Free College? Nailing Down Who Foots the Bill in an Economic Downturn
May 12, 2020 - Months before the novel coronavirus, experts were already beginning to question whether the notion of free college could withstand the next economic downturn. -
Part 3: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Financial Aid Professionals Unpack Free College
May 13, 2020 - The diversity of free college programs is causing headaches for financial aid administrators and leaving students confused.