Many freshly graduated high school students struggle with finding an affordable education, especially in Austin, where rising inflation contributes to every day prices skyrocketing. This issue leaves many aspiring students without access to higher education once they leave high school. To combat this issue, Austin Community College (ACC) has presented the Free Tuition program. This program will provide two years of free tuition to recent high school graduates who live in and around the Austin area.
According to the Austin American Statesman, ACC is one of many colleges that are implementing these types of programs which are financial aid initiatives that offer tuition-free college to recent high school graduates in a specific area. This program allows students who live in low-income households to pursue a college education. This program will be valuable to students, as it offers free tuition for the first two years, helping to aid and alleviate the financial struggles many young adults face.
In a 2023 fall survey conducted by ACC, researchers found that 58% of students who applied to the community college didn’t end up attending due to high tuition prices, though prices haven’t been affected by inflation and have remained the same for 11 years. The number one cause preventing graduated high school students from attending college nationwide is the cost of tuition. The Promise Program states that the college will pay the $87 per credit hour tuition for 2024 graduates for the upcoming three years. With the cost of tuition covered, students will now be able to focus on buying necessities for college such as books and living costs.
This program benefits students and Austin Community College. Increased affordability will boost enrollment, therefore increasing the number of students in attendance at ACC. Many students may even choose the option of free tuition at ACC rather than a more expensive school that matches their needs. According to Russel Lowery-Hart, the Chancellor for Austin Community College District, enrollment at ACC could potentially increase by 300 students just within the first year.
Furthermore, the success of this program could encourage other community colleges to do something similar. If results are positive and provide a noticeable change in what path students take after high school, this Promise Program could be spread to different areas of Texas where students also have issues with high tuition prices. With more and more colleges offering these programs, thousands of students who aspire to go to college, but can’t afford it, will be able to attend without the impending doom of student loans above them.
Although some members of the board argue that there are other things they should focus on first, such as support for mental health and child care, affordable education is a larger crisis that should be addressed. Many students have access to mental health or child support outside of school, while affordable education is an issue that is much further out of reach for many students and does not have an easy fix.
While it may seem like funding this program is an easy way for ACC to lose money, they are searching for a financial partner to assist with any financial concerns they may have. If a reliable partner is found, it can ensure financial stability for ACC, and help the college continue serving its community for years to come. They have already acquired a $6.8 million surplus to help keep the college and its program afloat, and with continued financial support, they could help even more students battle the affordability crisis in the future.
To provide aid to aspiring college students, the Promise Program should be continued for high school seniors in Central Texas. The program should also be implemented in other areas so more people are able to benefit from this initiative. No one should be forced to give up their dreams of pursuing a higher education because they are unable to afford tuition. The affordable education crisis is a growing issue that needs to be taken seriously, as it affects many people throughout the nation.
