Maryland lawmakers consider making community college free
BY KELLYE LYNN, ABC7WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH 2016
Maryland lawmakers consider making community college free (ABC7)
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ROCKVILLE, Md. (ABC7) — Amanda Gamaje is a first year student at Montgomery College, but the school wasn't her first choice. She considered other institutions but was influenced by cost.
"I think I would have been paying nearly $30,000 per year for both schools whereas with M.C. it would be virtually free because of the Pell Grants I would be getting," she shared.
There could soon be another way to achieve a free education in Maryland. Lawmakers in Annapolis are considering legislation that would allow students to attend community college at no charge.
Maryland State Delegate Keith Haynes sponsored the legislation.
"What it provides for is a full tuition waiver for individuals or students who are at the community college level," he explained. If approved, the waivers could cost the state more than $65 million and by 2021 more than $74 million.
The policy is already in place in three other states including Oregon, Minnesota and Tennessee.
In Maryland, some criticize the tuition free bill saying it doesn't guarantee colleges reimbursement on the waivers. Few, however, can deny the need. Melissa Gregory is Associate Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Montgomery College.
"The need is there. You have to look at the population in Maryland and certainly looking at the population in Montgomery County. It's time," she emphasized.
Twenty-three-year-old Mady Nadje agrees. Before he got to Montgomery College, he accumulated more than $10,000 in debt to fund his college education. He says having community college covered financially could free up money for other things.
"Like buying a home or being able to build a legacy for my family where they have the money to fund their own schooling when they get to the same age that I'm at now," he said.
BY KELLYE LYNN, ABC7WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH 2016
Maryland lawmakers consider making community college free (ABC7)
5431 shares
tweet now!
ROCKVILLE, Md. (ABC7) — Amanda Gamaje is a first year student at Montgomery College, but the school wasn't her first choice. She considered other institutions but was influenced by cost.
"I think I would have been paying nearly $30,000 per year for both schools whereas with M.C. it would be virtually free because of the Pell Grants I would be getting," she shared.
There could soon be another way to achieve a free education in Maryland. Lawmakers in Annapolis are considering legislation that would allow students to attend community college at no charge.
Maryland State Delegate Keith Haynes sponsored the legislation.
"What it provides for is a full tuition waiver for individuals or students who are at the community college level," he explained. If approved, the waivers could cost the state more than $65 million and by 2021 more than $74 million.
The policy is already in place in three other states including Oregon, Minnesota and Tennessee.
In Maryland, some criticize the tuition free bill saying it doesn't guarantee colleges reimbursement on the waivers. Few, however, can deny the need. Melissa Gregory is Associate Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Montgomery College.
"The need is there. You have to look at the population in Maryland and certainly looking at the population in Montgomery County. It's time," she emphasized.
Twenty-three-year-old Mady Nadje agrees. Before he got to Montgomery College, he accumulated more than $10,000 in debt to fund his college education. He says having community college covered financially could free up money for other things.
"Like buying a home or being able to build a legacy for my family where they have the money to fund their own schooling when they get to the same age that I'm at now," he said.
