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marmosetohmarmoset t1_j3wixal wrote

Reply to comment by superbbuffalo in Mass. leaders are eyeing free community college — at least for some residents by SAT0725

But if all residents qualify then the amount all residents pay will also be higher. If there’s limited funding, it makes some sense to limit the number of people in the program to a strategic group where it would have the most impact. In this case they propose limiting it to people over the age of 25 who don’t already have a degree. It’s a lot more difficult to go back to school when you’re older- this could help lower that hurdle.

This is the kind of program, like many others, where not everyone directly benefits, but the whole state may indirectly benefits. There’s a critical shortage of medium-skilled technical workers in the state. Increasing the supply of people who are qualified to do these jobs could improve the state’s overall economy, leaving more funding for other programs.

Kind of odd how so many comments in this thread are focused on the program not being open to every single resident. This is very typical of how the government works. For example, everyone helps pay for SNAP benefits, but not everyone gets SNAP benefits- just the people who need it.

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3720-To-One t1_j3wjsm1 wrote

You realize that just because all residents would qualify for free state college, doesn’t mean every resident would meet admissions requirements.

Your argument still boils down to ability to pay should decide who goes to college and who doesn’t.

I don’t understand why whenever there are conversations of free college, every acts like that would admit every single person who applies.

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marmosetohmarmoset t1_j3wnxp6 wrote

Do community colleges have many admissions requirements? I thought not? This program is for community college, not 4-year state colleges.

To clarify, I think free state college for all residents would be great. But if for whatever reason that's not politically or economically feasible, then I think more limited strategic programs are better than doing nothing.

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flamethrower2 t1_j3wpp7m wrote

High school diploma or GED. You would want someone who needs a GED to attend a GED-focused program.

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marmosetohmarmoset t1_j3wqs5b wrote

Right. So that’s at least 90% of MA residents who would qualify.

Honestly I’d love to go to community college and pick up some random degrees and skills just for fun. I’m a nerd who loves school, and that’s probably exactly how I’d spend my time if I had unlimited funds. But I already have a PhD and a high-skill job, so that funding would be kind of wasted on me.

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IntelligentMeal40 t1_j3xyj13 wrote

I don’t think it will be for people like me who would like to take some classes to learn American Sign Language for example I assume it’s just for matriculated students who don’t already have a bachelors degree

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Bobbydadude01 t1_j3wz5cw wrote

>For example, everyone helps pay for SNAP benefits, but not everyone gets SNAP benefits- just the people who need it.

Horrible comparison. How many middle class Americans need to choose between debt or going without food? That's the reality of college now.

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IntelligentMeal40 t1_j3xy8vf wrote

Exactly, wasn’t the main complaint about Biden’s plan to eliminate a chunk of student loan debt that some of that was going to people who don’t need it? It’s almost like Americans hate it when we help other Americans. It’s so weird. First they complain people who might not need $10,000 off their student long will get it, then they wanna complain people who might not need free college won’t get it.

Do y’all even hear yourselves.

I don’t know why we spend so much money on the military, there’s no one on earth completes the American people more than other American people.

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