Iowans value the opportunities Iowa’s 15 community colleges provide. Community colleges do a great job of training a skilled workforce at a time when nearly 34 percent of open positions in Iowa require an education level equal to an associate’s degree or higher. In 2014, Iowa’s community colleges trained more than 85,000 Iowans. That’s why we want to provide more than $40 million in on-going worker training funding for all of Iowa’s community colleges.
Despite the growing importance of community colleges to both Iowa students and the Iowa economy, state funding has not kept up. Even when accounting for inflation, tuition has increased dramatically in recent years. To help, our Education Budget includes an $8 million increase in general aid to our community colleges. This funding will help keep tuition rates down so that all Iowans are able to learn, train and grow at our community colleges.
About 63 percent of Iowa’s state university graduates in 2013 had student loan debt, averaging $28,293 per student, according to the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. This year, we are proposing the funding necessary to freeze tuition for the third straight year at the University of Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa.
The Iowa Policy Project, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve and others warn that rising student loan debt is bad for our economy. The investments we propose will help reign in escalating student debt, strengthen our middle class and grow Iowa’s future.
Almost half of bachelor’s degrees awarded in Iowa come from our private colleges and universities. Iowa Tuition Grants help them pay their way. Iowa Tuition Grants are awarded to Iowa residents enrolled at Iowa’s private colleges and universities. Priority goes to applicants with the greatest financial need. The exact amount each student receives depends on the funding available and number of students awarded grants.
Students may receive grants for up to four years of full-time, undergraduate study. With the funding we are proposing for Iowa Tuition Grants in this year’s Senate Education Budget, the maximum annual award would be an estimated $5,000 per student next year—up from $4,550 per student this year. For the 2013-14 school year, almost 15,000 students received the grant, which is matched by their school.
@LVS Gotta disagree. Community colleges ARE the most affordable option out there, BECAUSE of state support, not in spite of it. Less state aid = higher tuition thus less support for COMMON folk. A knee jerk reaction against higher taxes often does not take into account the bigger picture. I graduated NIACC and gained an education that I would not have qualified for entry to nor could have afforded at a 4 year college and I don’t think I am the only one who has done so.
@Anonymous-I have nothing against community college’s. I too graduated from one as did my son and brother. My complaint is about Ragan and her continuous spending and wanting more and more. There must be a cap . The well is running dry as there are fewer people coming into the area. If you want college there are grants and other programs. If you can’t qualify maybe you shouldn’t be in college. Votech schools are a great option for someone who needs a trade.
We need to clip out all these headlines that showcase Ragen and Steckman with their “tax and spend” promotions and put them in the hands of all the voters at election time.
These two spendbirds just fly around running their mouth giving away money while the middle class suffers.
The governor gave Hy-Vee a 7.5 million dollar tax break to help them build an addition onto their corporate office in West Des Moines. I would have much rather seen that money go to Community Colleges than to a privately held company worth $8 billion.
Spend, spend, spend. Tired of Ragan and other raising taxes and proposing more spending all in the name of doing us a big favor.
STOP IT ALREADY!
Cut their cost back to where people can afford to go to college. All she does is want to spend everyone else’s money to make it look like she is doing something.
Raise 8 million by cutting payroll! Leave the taxpayers alone.