Is "Free" College Next?: Obama proposes free community college program

1/9/2015

Jan. 8, 2015: President Barack Obama signs a condolences book during a visit to the French Embassy. (AP)

WASHINGTON –  President Obama on Thursday proposed making community college free "for everybody who is willing to work for it."

In a video posted on Facebook, the president previewed his plan, which will be formally announced during a trip to Tennessee Friday.

"It's not for kids," Obama said. "We also have to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to constantly train themselves for better jobs, better wages, better benefits."

The proposal drew an immediate critical response from House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who said, "with no details or information on the cost, this seems more like a talking point than a plan."

According to a White House press release, federal funding would cover three-quarters of the average cost of community college and states that choose to participate will be expected to contribute the remaining funds necessary. 

Students are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA while in college, and must make steady progress toward completing their program in order to have their tuition eliminated, according to the press release.

"Put simply, what I'd like to do is to see the first two years of community college free for everybody who is willing to work for it," the president said.

The White House expects an estimated 9 million students to participate in the program and each could save $3,800 a year on tuition.

Last year, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law a scholarship program that provides free community and technical college tuition for two years to the state's high school graduates. About 58,000 of the state's roughly 62,000 seniors have applied to participate this fall

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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