Due in part to Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential bid and the staggering fact that college tuition rates have quadrupled since 1990, college affordability has become a central issue for 2017 and beyond. With 70 percent of students graduating with student loan debt averaging over $33,000, the future of our educational system and the success of our students hinge on remedying this urgent issue. Read on to learn about seven organizations working to confront this problem head on.
1. Lumina Foundation
The Lumina Foundation is a well-respected organization on a mission to increase the amount of Americans with higher education degrees. Their Goal 2025 initiative aims for 60 percent of Americans to obtain post-secondary degrees by 2025. By providing grants for programs that promote college affordability and accessibility, the foundation works toward a future where high-quality degrees are a viable option for all Americans.
2. Campaign for Free College Tuition
The Campaign for Free College Tuition is an organization dedicated to making Bernie Sanders’s dream of free public college a reality. Due in part to the organization’s work, Tennessee and Oregon have launched programs to make their two-year colleges tuition-free, with more states expected to follow in 2017. You can take part by signing their petition for free college here.
3. NYU Intergenerational Housing
Super-pricey NYU has debuted a creative new low-cost lodging option for students: accommodation in the spare rooms of local senior citizens. The program, which the university calls a “low-cost intergenerational option” takes advantage of the fact that many older NYC residents have open space in their apartments and creates a financially beneficial opportunity for both low-income seniors and students.
4. Open Textbook Network
According to the College Board, students spent an average of $1,200 per year on textbooks in 2016. No student should have to struggle academically and drop a class just because she can’t afford the astronomical price of a textbook. This is the idea behind the Open Textbook Network, an alliance of educators and college accessibility advocates that operate the Open Textbook Library, a digital library of openly licensed textbooks that can be downloaded by students for free.
5. Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream addresses the college affordability issue by opting to enrich the existing affordable option: community colleges. While community colleges are a useful resource for lower-income students, statistics cited by Achieving the Dream reveal that less than 50 percent of community college students finish their degree. Achieving the Dream works to close the achievement gap that exists due to systemic disadvantages by furnishing students with the tools to graduate, and supporting the efforts of community colleges to strengthen their offerings.
6. Government Programs
In 2009, President Obama announced his goal of making America the country with the highest amount of college graduates by 2020. In 2014, he took steps toward this goal by signing a memorandum to propose measures allowing 5 million students burdened by debt to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income. The Obama administration has also increased Pell Grants and expanded tax credits for education to help families afford college.
7. UpNext / Better Make Room
Applying for financial aid can be daunting. UpNext, a free texting service created by the nonprofit Better Make Room aims to ensure that no one misses out on a chance to finance his or her education due to missing important deadlines. Members receive timely alerts and tips when it comes time for actions like registering for the SATs, filing for FAFSA, and paying your loan payment. The tool is a helpful resource for those who lack sufficient college guidance.
Alongside these initiatives, Course Hero is committed to finding ways to help students afford college (like stepping up to aid this hardworking student). Apply to our monthly scholarship giveaways for a chance to win $5,000 towards financing your education.
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