Governor Edward G. Rendell’s plan to make college tuition more affordable for every Pennsylvania family earning under $100,000 a year will help more than 170,000 students once in place, while putting a college degree within reach of 10,000 students who otherwise would be unable to afford tuition or might leave the state to attend college.
“Many families who saved diligently for their children’s education have watched those savings quickly evaporate as a result of the national economic downturn,” Governor Rendell said during a visit to Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Johnstown. “That’s why it’s essential for the General Assembly to approve my plan right away so that students can receive needed relief starting this fall.”
Under the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act announced as part of the Governor’s 2009-10 budget proposal, all incoming students who qualify and seek to attend state-owned universities or community colleges will pay what they can afford in accordance with established financial aid practices. Every family will pay at least $1,000 a year for each child in college.
For families with income under $100,000, students could obtain as much as $7,600 in relief for tuition, fees, room and board. This relief will greatly enhance the affordability of higher education, Governor Rendell said. If promptly approved by the General Assembly, the plan would start this fall with incoming freshmen.
Under the Tuition Relief Act:
— Everyone will pay something, but a student pays only what he or she
can afford.
— Many families earning less than $32,000 a year will pay just $1,000
for tuition, fees, room, board and books.
— Every family that qualifies will receive thousands of dollars in
tuition relief, and many will save as much as three-quarters of the
total bill for tuition, fees, room, board and books.
— Families that do not qualify for PHEAA grants but who earn less than
$100,000 a year also will benefit, more than doubling the number of
State System students receiving state-funded financial aid grants.
These families will receive a grant for half the cost of tuition —
about $2,700 in savings at State System schools.
In addition to providing immediate aid to families, Governor Rendell said his tuition relief plan also would alleviate the crushing debt that makes it hard for many college graduates to get a strong start in their professional life.
“Three out of four students who graduate from our public universities do so with debt averaging nearly $19,000 a student,” the Governor said. “One third of Pennsylvania community college graduates accumulate debt averaging over $7,000 per student; a far greater amount than in neighboring and competing states.”
The Governor’s budget also includes a $35 million increase in Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) tuition grants. This increase will dedicate $10 million to provide grants to nearly 10,000 additional community college students while ensuring that other college and university students do not lose their grants as a result of a reduction in contributions to student grants by PHEAA.
Enrollment at many community colleges has increased dramatically due to the national recession, and Governor Rendell’s dedicated new PHEAA funding for community college students as well as a $5 million increase in community college operating support will keep tuition costs under control.
Both of the Governor’s higher education proposals will enable 20,000 additional students to seek college degrees — even in these difficult economic times.
For more information on the Tuition Relief Act and Pennsylvania’s other education initiatives, visit the Department of Education Web site at www.pde.state.pa.us or www.pa.gov.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.
Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
Web Site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/
http://www.pa.gov/
