Rhode Island could be the next state to provide tuition-free college

Rhode Island may be the next state in the United States to pass tuition-free college as lawmakers are looking into a proposal put forth by Governor Gina Raimondo. The proposal would provide free college education to residents regardless of income unlike New York's scholarship for middle-class families.

All high school graduates that reside in the state would be eligible for the scholarship if they enrol at University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College or the Community College of Rhode Island. Scholars would not need to pay for the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for the first two years.

The proposed program is expected to benefit 7,000 students and would cost the government US$30 million (AU$39 million) per year once approved and implemented. That would be 0.5 percent of the state's overall budget. Raimondo proposed to include the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship in 2017’s budget, which is expected to be finalised before the start of the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

The plan should be approved by the state Senate and House of Representatives, which are both controlled by fellow Democrats. However, not everyone seems to agree with the scholarship proposal. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello is not impressed with the idea, calling it "truly unsustainable" and "fiscally irresponsible.”

After state Senate and state Assembly approved the plan, New York has become the first state to offer free four-year tuition. High school graduates whose families earn US$125,000 (AU$166) or less are eligible. At least 940,000 families are expected to be benefited.

The Excelsior Scholarship will be part of the state's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The program has no age limit and students must be enrolled full time as soon as they obtain the Excelsior Scholarship.

"Today, college is what high school was- it should always be an option even if you can't afford it,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. Furthermore, the state is investing in electronic books to lower costs for the students. Per the Associated Press, New York has the largest public university system in the US.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders proposed free-tuition plans during the 2016 presidential campaign. Tennessee and Oregon is currently offering tuition at community colleges for all residents, regardless of income. San Francisco is slated to start the same program this year.

As for Louisiana, CNN Money notes that it provides scholarships to students who meet certain academic standards. However, the state could not reportedly afford to fund the scholarships fully this year.

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