(The Center Square) – For many Americans, the cost of higher education has become increasingly prohibitive and its rewards ever more nebulous.
Some Ohio legislators are hoping to close the distance toward higher education by offering tuition-free access to public institutions through a bill introduced in the House last week.
To cover the cost of free tuition, the bill would levy a tax on the state’s highest earners, those making more than $500,000 annually.
“This economy has made higher education increasingly important for career success and financial stability. It is our moral obligation to provide students the opportunity to further their academic ambitions,” said Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, one of the bill’s sponsors. “Access to higher education should not be limited by a student’s economic status.”
The Center Square reached out to Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, R-Ashtabula, chair of the House Education committee, who was unavailable for comment.
If passed, the law would be in keeping with several other states who offer free tuition, though the mechanisms to pay for it, which students can receive it, and which schools they can attend vary widely.
The states that offer these opportunities fall at points across the political spectrum. Neighbors Indiana and West Virginia both offer free in-state tuition for community and technical colleges. They are among several states with a focus on workforce readiness, incentivizing careers in trades and STEM.
States like New York and New Mexico offer programs that cover tuition in four-year public institutions as well. In New York, students with family incomes less than $125,000 can apply for the Excelsior Scholarship, which allows them to attend its State University of New York, or SUNY, system.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Tristan Rader, D-Lakewood.
“In one of the richest countries in the world, no one should experience such daunting financial barriers to receive a public higher education,” said Rader. “We have the resources to do it, we just need to direct them to support our students’ futures, not padding the pockets of millionaires.”
Critics of free tuition programs raise concerns about the cost to taxpayers while questioning the return on investment. They often point to struggling K-12 systems as evidence that state-sponsored programs would be less effective than the existing model.
As it stands, both students and the state shell out billions toward its colleges and universities. The State Share of Instruction formula paid about $6,741 per student in 2023, which is 61% of the U.S. average according to Policy Matters Ohio. The organization that the state’s failure to keep up with inflation has increased rates for students.
