08/26/2013
Obama Unveils Plan to Lower College Costs
In a speech last week at the University of Buffalo, President Obama said colleges should be judged by the success of their students. Earlier, the administration introduced a “College Scorecard,” which judges schools on cost, graduation rate, loan default rate, and post-graduation employment. The new initiative would give that score card more teeth by tying those rankings to the $150 billion in annual student aid.
■Class discussion: Is it fair to judge colleges on how well their students do after graduation? Are high schools judged the same way? Should low ranking colleges stop getting federal student loan money? Do you consider the likelihood of finding a good, well-paid career as you decide where and what to study? Why have college costs skyrocketed? Is getting a four-year college degree right for everyone? What are some alternatives?