Tennessee to Expand Tuition-Free College Program

Introduction At a time when some states are cutting back on their investment in education, Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee is expanding on the state’s college education initiative (TennesseePromise.gov) by extending tuition-free education to adults through the Tennessee Reconnect program. Integral to education access is the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act — “legislation to increase broadband access to Tennessee’s… Continue reading Tennessee to Expand Tuition-Free College Program

This is why free college education actually costs society nothing.

Recently I posted a story on Facebook about a program started in Tennessee that provides free community college education to all residents. Over 35,000 students have already applied for the program, and more will apply again this year. One of my conservative Republican friends promptly posted the comment, “Who actually pays for it?” which was to suggest that… Continue reading This is why free college education actually costs society nothing.

The Value of a Community College Education

Abstract This study provides one of the first estimates of the returns to different types of community college credentials—short-term certificates, long-term certificates, and associate degrees—across different fields of study. We exploit a rich data set that includes matched, longitudinal college transcripts and Unemployment Insurance records for students who entered a Washington State community college in… Continue reading The Value of a Community College Education