New Mexico Plans to Make College Tuition-Free for Residents

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico announced a free college tuition plan for the state's residents yesterday.

Grisham via Twitter: "Today I’m thrilled to announce a huge development for New Mexico higher education – we’re going to make college tuition-free for New Mexico students."

It's an enlightened and bold approach for a state that has traditionally been one of the poorest in the nation and which cut funding for higher education by 30% in the decade following the 2008 financial crisis.

New York Times: “This program is an absolute game changer for New Mexico,” Governor Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “In the long run, we’ll see improved economic growth, improved outcomes for New Mexican workers and families and parents.”

The plan would be available to all students, regardless to family income, and would also include funding for adults returning to school at community colleges. And, the proposed legislation would apply to all of the state’s two and four-year public universities starting in the Fall of 2020 and assist up to 55,000 students.

Lujan Grisham's proposal still requires legislative approval, but both chambers in New Mexico are controlled by Democrats, and New Mexico's increasing oil-production revenues would seem to provide adequate funding for the initiative.

#education #news

By: Don Lam & Curated Content