Jersey Shore Business Journal

April 16, 2008

Presidential candidates offer different approaches to higher education funding

By SHARON SCHULMAN

For many high school students, spring brings the dread and delight of college admission decisions. For parents, the question of “how will we afford it?” becomes ever more real.
As the presidential race continues and voters look to November, you may wonder where the candidates stand on higher education. What role, if any, do they see for the federal government in making a college degree more accessible and affordable?
The 2008 average cost of tuition and fees at the state’s nine public colleges and universities – Kean, Montclair State, New Jersey City, Rowan and William Paterson universities; Ramapo College of New Jersey, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, the College of New Jersey and Thomas Edison State College – is about $9,500 a year. This does not include the cost of room and board. New Jersey’s 19 community colleges have a tuition cost of about $2,600 a year.
Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the two Democratic presidential hopefuls, agree on two basic issues of higher education. First, all generally agree that federal Pell Grants for students from low-income families should be periodically increased to keep up with the rising cost of tuition. Second, all agree that the public Direct Loan program should be strengthened, in the wake of past disclosures that some schools were favoring the more expensive private Federal Family Education Loan program.
Almost all financial aid begins with the tedious filling out of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This five-page form asks much of the same information that is on the federal income tax return most families file. Both Senators Clinton and Obama have said they would like to eliminate the FAFSA and replace it with a check-off on the parents’ tax return that would allow a college or university to obtain the information they need and demonstrate a family’s eligibility for various federal grant and loan programs.
Obama and Clinton also have plans to offer tax credits to pay for the cost of tuition and fees. Obama’s plan provides for a $4,000 annual credit, while Clinton offers a credit of $3,500 a year. Both would allow an eligible family to take the credit when filing the prior year’s taxes so that the money would be before the student enrolls for their first semester. Also, each has a plan to support community colleges through incentive grants.
Senator McCain does not currently have a specific platform related to higher education beyond the initial areas of agreement with the Democratic candidates. However, his platform on veterans issues calls for expanding college access for those who serve in the military.
It may be surprising, but so far this election season, higher education has not been a major issue on the trail. Now that McCain has clinched his party nomination, he is expected to “reintroduce” himself to the full electorate. Often this means the candidate will shift the issues spotlight from those of most concern to the primary voters to those of concern to the general electorate. Only time will tell if higher education will be one of the issues McCain will take up in his drive to the White House.
However, it will be up to you whether either the eventual Democratic nominee or McCain takes on college affordability and access as part of the national dialogue this fall. With the high turnout and excitement generated by one of the most competitive primary seasons in decades, the voters have a greater opportunity than ever to shape the debate.
As we as a nation discuss the state of our national economy and our standing in the world, one cannot think of something more vital to the country’s future than educating our college students. With the focus now moving to neighboring Pennsylvania and with our inclusion in the Philadelphia media market, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Sharon Schulman is the director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Between now and November, the Hughes Center will publish occasional articles on campaign positions in an effort to translate national policy into how it will affect area residents and businesses. Our hope is to provide you, the voters, with information that will help you select your next president. The information in this article came from the New Jersey Department of Higher Education, the New Jersey Consortium of County Colleges, USA Today’s candidate profiles, and the three presidential candidates’ websites.