Governor Cuomo proposes free college tuition for middle class families
ALBANY – Earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the first signature proposal of his 2017 agenda: making college tuition-free at all SUNY and CUNY two- and four-year programs for any New York families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year.
Cuomo was joined by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for the announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 3, of the first-of-its-kind proposal. The proposal—known as the Excelsior Scholarship—was unveiled by Cuomo at LaGuardia Community College.
“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,” said Cuomo. "New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset – our people – and supporting the dreams and ambitions of those who want a better life and are willing to work hard for it. I am honored to have the support of Senator Sanders, who led the way on making college affordability a right, and I know that together we can make this a reality with New York leading the way once again."
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said, “If the United States is to succeed in a highly competitive global economy, we need the best educated workforce in the world. With exploding technology, and with most of the good paying jobs requiring more and more education, we need to make certain that every New Yorker, every Vermonter and every American gets all the education they need regardless of family income. In other words, we must make public colleges and universities tuition free for the middle class and working families of our country. That is what Governor Cuomo is fighting for here in New York and it's something I strongly support. I urge New York legislators to pass this enormously important proposal, and become a model for the rest of the nation.”
The proposed program requires participating students to be enrolled at their respective SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college full-time.
It is reported by Governor Cuomo's office that currently 80 percent of NY households statewide make $125,000 or less, with an estimated 940,000 households having college-aged children that would be eligible for the program. Based on enrollment projections, the program would cost $163 million per year once fully phased in.
The initiative is set to be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and eventually reaching $125,000 in 2019.
The initiative is in response to soaring student debts in recent years reaching $1.2 trillion nationwide–surpassing credit card debt, car debt, and home equity lines of credit as the second largest source of consumer debt.
Cuomo's proposal is not without opposition; there are many questions about the sustainability of the proposal and calls for a more specific plan of where the source of the money is.
Senator Fred Akshar of the 52nd Senate District said, "College Affordability and the rapidly-growing college debt our young people face are major concerns of mine and an issue that I've discussed with people across the 52nd Senate District, but proposing a $163 million dollar-a-year program without a clear-cut way to pay for it is problematic.”
Akshar continued, "While I support helping middle-class families afford the rising cost of a college education, I'm very concerned that this proposal will put an unfair burden on hardworking taxpayers that have paid for Albany's tax-and-spend culture for far too long. New York currently spends $1 billion per year on tuition assistance, and I'd need to see a lot more details on this proposal before passing judgement."
Senator Akshar released an online survey this week in an effort to better understand how people in the area are feeling about the proposal. Akshar is asking his constituents in Broome, Tioga, Chenango, and Delaware counties to weigh-in on the proposal by visiting www.Akshar.NYSenate.Gov and taking the questionnaire. All are encouraged to participate.
Cuomo was joined by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for the announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 3, of the first-of-its-kind proposal. The proposal—known as the Excelsior Scholarship—was unveiled by Cuomo at LaGuardia Community College.
“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,” said Cuomo. "New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset – our people – and supporting the dreams and ambitions of those who want a better life and are willing to work hard for it. I am honored to have the support of Senator Sanders, who led the way on making college affordability a right, and I know that together we can make this a reality with New York leading the way once again."
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said, “If the United States is to succeed in a highly competitive global economy, we need the best educated workforce in the world. With exploding technology, and with most of the good paying jobs requiring more and more education, we need to make certain that every New Yorker, every Vermonter and every American gets all the education they need regardless of family income. In other words, we must make public colleges and universities tuition free for the middle class and working families of our country. That is what Governor Cuomo is fighting for here in New York and it's something I strongly support. I urge New York legislators to pass this enormously important proposal, and become a model for the rest of the nation.”
The proposed program requires participating students to be enrolled at their respective SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college full-time.
It is reported by Governor Cuomo's office that currently 80 percent of NY households statewide make $125,000 or less, with an estimated 940,000 households having college-aged children that would be eligible for the program. Based on enrollment projections, the program would cost $163 million per year once fully phased in.
The initiative is set to be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and eventually reaching $125,000 in 2019.
The initiative is in response to soaring student debts in recent years reaching $1.2 trillion nationwide–surpassing credit card debt, car debt, and home equity lines of credit as the second largest source of consumer debt.
Cuomo's proposal is not without opposition; there are many questions about the sustainability of the proposal and calls for a more specific plan of where the source of the money is.
Senator Fred Akshar of the 52nd Senate District said, "College Affordability and the rapidly-growing college debt our young people face are major concerns of mine and an issue that I've discussed with people across the 52nd Senate District, but proposing a $163 million dollar-a-year program without a clear-cut way to pay for it is problematic.”
Akshar continued, "While I support helping middle-class families afford the rising cost of a college education, I'm very concerned that this proposal will put an unfair burden on hardworking taxpayers that have paid for Albany's tax-and-spend culture for far too long. New York currently spends $1 billion per year on tuition assistance, and I'd need to see a lot more details on this proposal before passing judgement."
Senator Akshar released an online survey this week in an effort to better understand how people in the area are feeling about the proposal. Akshar is asking his constituents in Broome, Tioga, Chenango, and Delaware counties to weigh-in on the proposal by visiting www.Akshar.NYSenate.Gov and taking the questionnaire. All are encouraged to participate.
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