Tuiton Through Time
In the last 30 years, tuition at public universities has done this.
What is tripled?
Total student loan debt in the U.S. today.
What is $1.7 trillion?
This European country offers free college even to Americans.
What is Germany?
Free college could increase this, benefiting the labor market.
What is the skilled workforce?
Pro: Students graduate with less of this.
What is debt?
Decade when tuition began rising the fastest.
What is the 1990s?
The average undergraduate borrower owes this much.
What is about $30,000?
This Nordic country invests heavily in free higher education.
What is Norway?
Free college would likely require raising this.
What are taxes?
Con: Some argue free college may cause this—too many students enrolling without commitment.
What is overcrowding?
One major reason states raised tuition.
What are cuts to state funding?
This type of loan typically has lower interest rates.
What are federal loans?
Country where tuition is low but cost of living is high.
What is Sweden or Denmark?
Term for economic gains that come from more educated workers.
What are positive externalities?
Pro: Free college increases this, especially among low-income students.
What is access/equity?
Term for the fact that tuition grows faster than inflation.
What is “tuition inflation”?
Term for when borrowers can’t pay debt because of low wages.
What is loan delinquency?
Region where free technical colleges are common.
What is Western Europe?
A free-college plan might be funded by these income groups.
What are high-income taxpayers?
Con: Critics say free college could raise this government metric.
What is national spending/deficit?
This law expanded access to federal student aid in 1965.
What is the Higher Education Act?
This program forgives loans after 10 years of public service.
What is PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness)?
The U.S. once ranked here in college affordability.
What is world-leading or top 3?
Critics say free college could hurt these institutions.
What are private colleges?
Pro: Free college could close this persistent gap.
What is the opportunity gap?