Released just prior to news that universities across the nation will raise their tuition costs yet again, this time by an average of 5.9 percent, a new nationwide survey says that 42 percent of Americans think it is "extremely important" that the next president address the need to control college costs. Of those polled, 32 percent believe Barack Obama is the presidential candidate most likely to enact policies that would help families pay for college education in the future. Hillary Clinton came in second with 19 percent of votes, and John McCain rounded out the poll with 10 percent.
But despite the survey's findings that Obama led over his Democratic rival with 13 points, voters would be hard-pressed to find many differences between the two candidates' platforms for higher education. Both say they want to eliminate the FAFSA, introduce a higher tax credit for those attending college, and increase the federal Pell Grant for lower-income students. McCain has yet to detail his plan for higher education, but says on his Web site that he will "pursue reforms that address the underlying cultural problems in our education system."
John Wheatley, president of the College Democrats and A&S '08, says the unbalanced favor for Obama in the poll may rest not his platform at all, but rather on how the public perceives him as an agent for change.
"A lot of times, Hillary is associated with the past, while Barack is seen as someone new and closer to the college-aged population. In the past, we haven't had great programs to help students in college, so Hillary is more associated with the status quo than Barack, whether that's fair or not," Wheatley said.
The Chronicle of Higher Education survey, whose 984 participants answered questions over a 12-day period in late February and early March, also revealed that with respect to concerns about higher education, cost was the most important issue, followed by quality of an education and admission for low-income students to top-rated colleges.
The survey also indicated that Americans had a hard time agreeing whether the federal government should have a role in controlling college tuition. The poll split almost evenly with 51 percent in favor and 49 percent against.
While it is unlikely the federal government could ever play a large part in determining a state or private institution's tuition bill, some of the candidates' higher education proposals show promise in helping students beyond just offering more financial aid.
For example, Clinton's Truth In Tuition disclosure proposal would require all institutions of higher education seeking federal financial aid to set a four-year tuition and fee level for each entering freshman class. In this way, students and their families would know exactly how much they would need to pay at the start of their college career.
While some states offer prepaid tuition plans that give parents the option to pay a fixed tuition rate in one lump sum at the start of a student's four-year education, for the more than 60 percent of students at Boston College who need financial aid just to cover one semester's tuition, paying up front is simply not an option.
Helin Siris, A&S '08, said that in this way, Clinton's proposal could greatly benefit students who cannot afford to pay a fixed tuition all at once.
"It would be nice if there were a locked-in tuition that you didn't just have to pay ahead of time. Right now, since there's no guarantee with your financial aid package, it can change significantly from year to year. If there could be a fixed financial aid package, or even more merit-based scholarships, I think that would help too."
Other students say that mandating a fixed tuition rate would be not only unhelpful, but unfair.
"I am in favor of a fluctuating tuition," said Dylan Roberts, A&S '11. "You need to set tuition higher each year in order to account for extra costs, like the rise in the price of fuel. And it wouldn't be fair if each class had to pay a different price."
Clinton's other proposals include the creation of a higher education cost calculator, which would let students see how much aid they should expect from any institution in the nation in addition to what the federal government would offer, as well as the insurance that monthly payments of education loans not exceed a percentage of the student's income. Obama also proposes to eliminate all private loan programs that receive government subsidies in order to increase the amount of federal aid available.
While the survey ranked McCain as the least likely to shape polices to lower the cost of higher education, some, like Erika Peña, A&S '08, say his lack of a higher education platform won't change the outcome of the election.
"I don't think it will make much of a difference. I think people are way too focused on immigration and Iraq to even notice," she said.
The same survey found that Americans ranked higher education as the last issue, of the 12 choices provided, that the next president should address. The economy, Iraq, social security, taxes, health care, immigration, K-12 education, and the environment all ranked above higher education.
But others, like Wheatley, said that in a year when the "youth" vote could determine our next president, it is wise to run on a platform that details plans for higher education.
"It's [college tuition costs] a huge, huge, problem. I think it's smart for the Democrats, and John McCain for that matter, to talk about it. College students may not vote in most elections. But I think they will in this one."
Be the first to comment on this article!