Though perhaps overshadowed by other policy initiatives today, higher education became a notable point on the campaign trail, with some candidates (including then-Senator Joe Biden) promising to push for guaranteed access to public universities for all Americans.  But the White House has already taken some significant steps toward the goal of getting more young Americans into higher education.

1. The Obama Plan – Obama is increasing the funding and support for two-year institutions. This provides more options for those seeking an alternative to more expensive universities, and also those seeking additional training for their jobs.
2. The President has created a tax credit intended to help millions of Americans pay for tuition. This $2500 credit can just about cover an academic year at a two-year institution.
3. The Pell Grant system is getting a nice overhaul. Obama has increased the Pell by $500 for this academic year and is raising the max Pell amount to $5,500 for next year, helping families with lower income send their child to college.
4. In addition to the Pell Grant program, Obama is making the Perkins Loan program more ideally suited for students. In his words, he is “working to modernize and expand the Perkins Loan program by changing a system where colleges are rewarded for raising tuition and instead rewarding them for making college more affordable.”
5. The President also hopes to enroll more Americans for at least one year of training at a college or university. In order to do so, he has invested $2.5 billion to identify and bolster initiatives that boost both enrollment and graduation rates.
6. Obama Remarks On Higher Education – The system of student loans is getting a money-saving overhaul. Obama is seeking to switch all Federal Family Education Loans to Direct Loans, which will cut banks out of the process and save taxpayers millions. 
7. Obama has also passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help out education in America. In addition to a number of other benefits, this act includes over $30 billion dollars to research and implement ways of making college more affordable and accessible.
8. U.S. Push for Free Online Courses – How much more affordable can you get than free? Obama is enacting a plan that would provide high schools and community colleges federal funds to create online classes that would cost the students absolutely nothing.
9. The unemployed may be able to have their cake and eat it, too. Obama is working with various states and colleges to enable the unemployed to pursue higher education and receive federal aid to do so, without having to give up their unemployment benefits.
10. Obama calls for higher education revamp in US – Finally, Obama is encouraging colleges and universities to work in tandem with local businesses. The idea is to make college training more relevant to future job needs, and to provide an education that have an immediate, practical benefit upon graduation.

Learn more about higher education opportunities here!

Support Eyes On Obama!

Back to Blogs