Higher education is under siege, with many students and parents balking at high costs. In a series of opinion pieces, university leaders outline their efforts to keep college affordable. This is the first in the series.
For many people across the country, paying for college is the biggest investment they will ever make. Increasingly, this seems out of reach.
Over the past two decades, tuition and fees at domestic private universities have surged 112 percent; at some “elite” and highly selective schools, the annual cost of attendance now approaches $100,000.
Not surprisingly, public confidence in higher education has declined, something I heard directly from students when I served as U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama. Naturally, they began to wonder if they would get an adequate return on their investment.
This led us to launch the College Scorecard in 2015 to give families easy access to data on the value of college and to combat predatory for-profit colleges that leave students in debt and without a path to a better career.
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Yet in the years since, skepticism has only grown. Despite a report from the American Committee on Education and Labor Finding that associate’s degree holders can earn up to $400,000 more than high school graduates over their lifetime – and bachelor’s degree holders up to $1 million more – attending college is no longer a “default” option for many high school graduates.
If higher education is to restore public trust, affordability cannot be an afterthought. This must be at the center of our strategic direction.
Prospective students want to know that a degree will be financially accessible and lead to opportunities after graduation. Among students already in college, the pressure is real: 31 percent have considered dropping out of college due to costs, and more than half say they struggle to pay their monthly bills. And it’s not just young people: 85% of adults who dropped out or never enrolled in higher education say cost is one of the main reasons.
It’s not just about higher education. This is about the future of the American economy. By 2031, it is estimated 72 percent of jobs in the United States will require some form of post-secondary education or training. If we fail to make college affordable and accessible, we risk leaving millions of talented people behind and weakening our nation’s ability to compete in a rapidly changing economic environment.
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It doesn’t have to be this way. I have seen first-hand how much of a difference a different approach can make. At the State University of New York (SUNY), for example, a statewide tuition freeze on our campuses for four years has helped ensure that families can plan for tuition – which is just $7,070 per year – without fear of sudden increases.
But affordability requires more than controlling tuition or the cost of educational materials; When students can’t afford the essentials, education can fall by the wayside. That’s why New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also invested in comprehensive supports, including those aimed at addressing food insecurity and lack of child care, critical barriers that too often hinder students’ progress.
Initiatives like SUNY Reconnecta free community college program that covers tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults ages 25 to 55 pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields, also opens doors for those who once believed a postsecondary degree was out of reach.
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These programs are a win-win for students and schools. At a time when many institutions are concerned about declining enrollment, SUNY’s enrollment has increased by 6.5 percent over the last three years.
Similar efforts are gaining traction nationally. Michigan And Tennesseefor example, both offer some form of tuition-free community college program, expanding access to millions of students.
While this progress is encouraging, isolated programs in a patchwork of states will not be enough. If higher education truly wants to restore public trust, affordability must become a lasting, system-wide commitment.
This means keeping tuition predictable, expanding need-based aid, meeting basic needs like food, housing, transportation and child care, and ensuring that students who start college complete their degrees. It also means making the value of college clearer and more transparent, so students and their families can make informed decisions with confidence.
Public trust will not be restored through rhetoric alone. It will be rebuilt when students across the country understand that college is within their reach and that the opportunities it promises are real.
John B. King Jr. is chancellor of the State University of New York and, under President Barack Obama, served as the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education.
Contact the opinion editor at opinion@hechingerreport.org.
This story on public trust in higher education was produced by The Hechinger reportan independent, nonprofit news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Register with Hechinger weekly newsletter.
The article OPINION: If higher education wants to restore public trust, start by making college affordable, appeared first in the Hechinger Report.
