Illinois Awarding More Student Grants – Too Little Too Late?
August 6th, 2006An AP article in the Belleville New Democrat informs us of the Governor of Illinois signing a new law to provide middle and low-income students with $500 grants.
[The bill] provided $34.4 million for the new middle-income grants and the same amount for more relief for low-income students.
Any new laws helping students is a great accomplishment. But there may be a better way using government to help pay for state colleges and universities. Can’t we stop the problem before it starts? Are there any politicians raising this issue. Of course…the one who lost the election, how appropriate.
Blagojevich’s Republican opponent in the governor’s race, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, criticized the governor’s record on keeping tuition costs down.
“Under Rod Blagojevich, tuition for students at Illinois colleges and universities has increased more than 50 percent in less than four years. It is the largest tuition increase ever for an Illinois governor,” Topinka said in a written statement.
Not to single out Illinois, but the actual nationwide tuition rate increase from 2000-2005 was 40%, according to the College Board. It’s a national trend, and students have no choice but to pay it if they want higher education or a degree as a job and resume credential.
