This article comes to us courtesy of U.S. News & World Report, where it was originally published.
President Barack Obama’s proposal for free community college tuition is either a game changer or an empty promise. It just depends who you ask.
Either way, prospective students should pay close attention, despite that even if the plan is implemented, it could be years before it is a reality.
The president’s plan, dubbed America’s College Promise, would cover students’ tuition for qualifying community college programs, so long as students maintain a 2.5 GPA.
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And students in the Volunteer State can apply for the Tennessee Promise program, the statewide plan that inspired the president’s proposal.
All prospective students should stay prepared, says Stephanie Freeman, coordinator of the arts and humanities program at North Carolina Central University. The four-year college has an articulation agreement with several community colleges in the state, so a student’s associate degree would automatically count as their freshman and sophomore years at North Carolina Central.
“[Students] need to plan for college enrollment and save as much money as possible,” Freeman says, noting that it will likely be years before the president’s plan becomes a reality. “Tuition is only a part of overall college expenses.”
Trying to fund your education? Get tips, news and more in the U.S. News Paying for Community College center.
