Here & Now

Fast Facts: Tuition Promises

Frederica Freyberg:

As we continue to follow up on statements made by candidates on our program, Marisa Wojcik brings us this report about college tuition.

Marisa Wojcik:

Inspired by his 8th grade son, democratic candidate for governor Mahlon Mitchell said his solution for affordable higher education would come in the form of community service hours that would buy down the price of college.

Mahlon Mitchell:

They’re going to help the veterans who served our country. They’re going to help at vet hospital. They’re going to help at the local soup kitchen, help at the homeless shelter. Once then once they meet a threshold of hours, then they’ll have earned tuition paid for by the state for a four-year program.

Marisa Wojcik:

Mitchells proposal, which he is calling the “Wisconsin Compact,” is based on the already-existing model called the “Tennessee Promise.” High school seniors can apply for the “Tennessee Promise” program which will provide two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college. Students must complete eight hours of community service per semester, maintain a 2.0 grade point average and apply for federal financial assistance. Promise programs are popping up across the country. Many of these programs, such as the “Tennessee Promise” operate on what’s called a last-dollar basis, meaning they require students to receive funding from Pell grants and other aid before additional funding kicks in. Wisconsin does have nine technical colleges listed as last-dollar promise programs, but the financial aid gaps are made up almost entirely through private funding. Beginning this fall the University of Wisconsin-Madison will offer its own version of a last-dollar program, with “Buckys Tuition Promise.” The program is directed at households making less than $56,000 a year. Eventually, this is expected to cost the university $3.3 million annually. But unlike Mitchells idea, Buckys promise is entirely funded through private gifts and without state dollars. In addition to applying for FAFSA, the “Tennessee Promise” and the “Wisconsin Compact” require the extra layer of volunteer work. But some are calling for FAFSA itself to be simplified, saying its complexity and lack of transparency make it harder to reach the students who need aid most. For these and other fast facts, visit wpt.org.