Brooklyn’s elected officials were quick to praise Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for his new initiative to make college free for New Yorkers.
The new proposal was announced earlier today in a joint press conference with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) at LaGuardia Community College.
The Excelsior Scholarship is the first-in-the-nation that will make tuition-free for New York’s middle-class families at all SUNY and CUNY two and four-year colleges. Under this groundbreaking proposal, participating students will be required to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college full-time. The initiative will cover more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 through a supplemental aid program.
“A college education is not a luxury – it is an absolute necessity for any chance at economic mobility, and with these first-in-the-nation Excelsior Scholarships, we’re providing the opportunity for New Yorkers to succeed, no matter what zip code they come from and without the anchor of student debt weighing them down,” Cuomo said. “New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset – our people – and supporting the dreams and ambitions of those who want a better life and are willing to work hard for it.
Cuomo said the proposal will help alleviate the crushing burden of student debt – which has reached $1.2 trillion nationwide– while enabling thousands of bright young students to realize their dream of higher education. In addition, The Excelsior Scholarship program will ensure that students statewide, regardless of their socio-economic status, have the opportunity to receive a quality education and gain the skills they need to succeed in our global economy.
Sanders said if the United States is to succeed in a highly competitive global economy, than it needs the best educated workforce in the world. “With exploding technology, and with most of the good paying jobs requiring more and more education, we need to make certain that every New Yorker, every Vermonter and every American gets all the education they need regardless of family income. In other words, we must make public colleges and universities tuition free for the middle-class and working families of our country,” said Sanders, who was born and raised in Brooklyn.
Currently 80 percent of NY households statewide make $125,000 or less with an estimated 940,000 households having college-aged children that would be eligible for the program. Based on enrollment projections, the plan will cost approximately $163 million per year once fully phased in.
“For far too long, some of New York’s best and brightest students have been denied access to higher education due to a lack of financial resources, said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his visionary Excelsior Scholarship program, and Senator Sanders for his support. This proposal would go a long way toward leveling the playing field and helping thousands of students reach their full potential.”
Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams said, “For decades, New Yorkers have fought hard to close the inequality gap threatening to swallow thousands of families whole. We know, empirically and anecdotally, that access to higher education is one of the greatest roadblocks to economic opportunity in a job market that demands more than a high school diploma. I am heartened by the new State proposal to make the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) free for students from households making less than $125,000 annually. At a time where the federal government appears unable or unwilling to consider progressive reforms like this, it is up to states such as New York to lead the way and be the incubators of meaningful policy innovation.”
With an average annual tuition ranging from $6,470-$6,330 at SUNY and CUNY for a bachelor’s degree and $4,350-$4,800 for an associate’s degree, the more time a student spends in college, the higher the level of debt. By mandating that students be enrolled full-time, New York’s free tuition program will work to improve graduation rates and alleviate the heavy burden of student debt by encouraging more students to graduate on time in two to four years.
Public Advocate Letitia James said about the proposal, “Higher education should be an opportunity available to all, not only those wealthy enough to afford it. By ensuring that our working and middle class students can attend CUNY and SUNY schools free of crushing student debt, we are securing a brighter tomorrow for millions of New Yorkers. I applaud Governor Cuomo for recognizing the urgency with which we must address the student debt crisis and for introducing this bold plan.”
A college degree is necessary for increased earning power. According to studies researched by the Governor’s office (in the press release it only said “studies show” so I wasn’t sure who to attribute the “studies” to), a person with a bachelor’s degree, on average, will earn about 66 percent more over his or her lifetime than a person without a college degree. Those with an associate’s degree can expect to earn 24 percent more than a person with a high school diploma. Moreover, a college education is increasingly becoming a necessity, not a luxury. According to projections by the New York State Department of Labor, approximately 3.5 million jobs statewide will require an associate’s degree or higher by 2024.
Council Member Robert Cornegy, Jr. of the 36th District, said “Education is a critical pathway to success.Governor Cuomo’s Excelsior Scholarship Program expounds upon the work of my colleagues in the City Council who are working together to provide educational equity to all New Yorkers. The Excelsior Scholarship will allow many more to afford a college education in our CUNY and SUNY schools. I look forward to more young people in District 36, our city and throughout our state to having more opportunities for higher learning.”
The new initiative will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019.
The initiative will work by leveraging New York State’s generous aid programs. Currently, the Tuition Assistance Program or TAP provides nearly $1 billion in grants to college students statewide and New York is one of only two states in the nation that offers this type of entitlement. Under the program, eligible students would still receive TAP and any applicable federal grants. Additional state funds would cover the remaining tuition costs for incoming or existing eligible students.
“Education has often been considered the gateway to opportunity in America,” said Council Member Rafael Espinal, 37th District . “Yet in recent decades a college degree has been more of a financial burden, than a guarantee for a sound financial future. The prospect of student debt discourages many students from working and middle class families from going to college. And, for those who do take on student loans– it has been increasingly difficult to get ahead– as focus is placed on paying off monthly loan payments rather than saving or investing one’s hard-earned income. I applaud Governor Cuomo and Senator Bernie Sanders on their earnest efforts to make education more accessible and for being leaders on this national issue. Let’s work together to make New York the pioneer in statewide college tuition reform!”
State Sen. Jesse Hamilton parised the plan and added the doors of opportunity can still go further. “Young people coming out of foster care may need additional support to take advantage of tuition free, public higher education. The costs of room and board, books, and other necessary college supplies may pose obstacles to these young people that the proposed Excelsior Scholarships should take into account. I propose building on Governor Cuomo’s excellent idea of truly accessible public higher education and making sure young people, no matter their family background, have access to the higher education they deserve,” said Hamilton.
New York City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, chair of the Committee on Women’s Issues and co-chair of the Women’s Caucus, said that education is a tenet that citizens of this country hold dear, and knowledge is society’s greatest equalizer.
“For many scholars, higher education is a gift. Over a half of million students are enrolled in two- and four-year institutions of learning, but many more are still held back due to the financial barriers that make this pursuit unattainable. New York women have outpaced their male counterparts with advanced degrees while struggling to cover the cost of living, raising a family, and childcare.
“The Excelsior Scholarship program will pave the way for millions of New Yorkers to earn a college degree without the fear of incurring student debt. This is an incredible opportunity to close the gender pay gap and bolster our economy by preparing citizens to thrive in the workforce – both locally and globally,” she said.
