Oregon gives hope to American education, moves closer to 'free' college tuition - Polidicks

[quote](CNN) – A bill currently awaiting Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber's signature could radically change the way in-state public university students pay their way through college. Passed unanimously by the Democrat-controlled state Senate Monday after it had already cleared the also Democrat-controlled House, the bill would create a program called "Pay Forward, Pay Back" by which students wouldn't pay a dime at the time of study at any public institution for higher education in Oregon. Instead, students who qualify as Oregon residents would sign a binding contract that would require they pay a percentage of their post-college income back to the state every year for up to 24 years. If signed into law by the Democrat Kitzhaber, the bill would require the state's higher education coordinating commission to study, and if deemed feasible, submit a pilot program to the general assembly in 2015 for approval to test out the concept. If adopted statewide, the program comes with a price tag of $9 billion, although it would likely be years before all Oregon students could benefit from the program. The program would be the first of its kind. It owes its origins to an October 2012 report from the Washington state-based Economic Opportunity Council, which focuses on middle class issues. The percentage of income paid back would vary based on the type of institution attended but would be in the neighborhood of three percent.[/quote] [url]http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/04/oregon-moves-a-step-closer-to-free-college-tuition/[/url]

Oregon is a nice and beautiful state.

As someone who is currently selling personal possessions to pay my way through university, this is great. Let students get through school and pay back once they are making decent money (hopefully), it will be too late for me but I hope this comes to Canada one day too.

Average starting salary is 44k a year. Assuming you average 50k over those 24 years, which is a very low estimate, you'll clock in 36k under that program. Average tuition for a 4 year college is something like 16k... That's not a very good deal? It's just a long-term loan, really. I really like the idea, though, in that it's a percentage of your income, so if you don't find a decent job for a while the loans aren't pressing down.

I don't know guys, this sounds like a threat to the freedom of America.

[QUOTE=Iago;41317689]Oregon is a nice and beautiful state.[/QUOTE] washington is better

I think it's fine as long as students can opt out. I'm sure there are a lot of people who would rather do the regular way.

But what about private colleges, they don't get state money no?

[quote]students who qualify as Oregon residents would sign a binding contract that would require they pay a percentage of their post-college income back to the state every year for up to 24 years.[/quote] you mean... tax?

[QUOTE=YouWithTheFace.;41319445]you mean... tax?[/QUOTE] ok the way it works now is hi u want to attend a state university that'll be 2500 dollars this semester! oh you don't have 2500 dollars here's a high interest student loan and you'll end up paying 10 times more for this semester this way is ok welcome in but however once you start making income, you'll be paying your tuition

[QUOTE=Cows Rule;41319355]But what about private colleges, they don't get state money no?[/QUOTE] No. Because then they would be state colleges.

[QUOTE=Morcam;41318086]Average starting salary is 44k a year. Assuming you average 50k over those 24 years, which is a very low estimate, you'll clock in 36k under that program. Average tuition for a 4 year college is something like 16k...[/QUOTE] It says up to 24years, maybe that means it cuts off when paid up.

[QUOTE=cluckmoo;41318369]washington is better[/QUOTE] As much as I agree with you, I'm willing to admit that I believe it's a subjective thing between WA and OR. Because on the one hand, they pump your gas for you in Oregon. On the other hand, you're not allowed to make a right turn at a red light.

[QUOTE=lavacano;41320027]As much as I agree with you, I'm willing to admit that I believe it's a subjective thing between WA and OR. Because on the one hand, they pump your gas for you in Oregon. On the other hand, you're not allowed to make a right turn at a red light.[/QUOTE] who told you you cant turn right at a red light lmao i live there and ya u can

[QUOTE]they pay a percentage of their post-college income back to the state every year for up to 24 years.[/QUOTE] Set it up so that people pay after they have their education? Brilliant.

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;41319493]ok the way it works now is hi u want to attend a state university that'll be 2500 dollars this semester! oh you don't have 2500 dollars here's a high interest student loan and you'll end up paying 10 times more for this semester this way is ok welcome in but however once you start making income, you'll be paying your tuition[/QUOTE] I mean, that's called a loan... The difference is that the government can collect in a different way, i.e. making it a tax.

[QUOTE=lavacano;41320027]As much as I agree with you, I'm willing to admit that I believe it's a subjective thing between WA and OR. Because on the one hand, they pump your gas for you in Oregon. On the other hand, you're not allowed to make a right turn at a red light.[/QUOTE] In Jersey we have both. Turning at a red light and people pumping our gas for us. [IMG]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjJ-kXm4rnOoBs3dovYtzPYdoTcMM197sNLIR1OTuPX8sxofgO[/IMG]

i like this idea

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;41320220]Set it up so that people pay after they have their education? Brilliant.[/QUOTE] My student loan worked that way. Would not kick in until six months after I stop going to college or start going part time. My mistake, going part time...

[QUOTE=lavacano;41320027]As much as I agree with you, I'm willing to admit that I believe it's a subjective thing between WA and OR. Because on the one hand, they pump your gas for you in Oregon. On the other hand, you're not allowed to make a right turn at a red light.[/QUOTE] Why would you need someone to pump for you? Don't you just put the nozzle in, pull the trigger and wait in the US?

[QUOTE=sambooo;41320667]Why would you need someone to pump for you? Don't you just put the nozzle in, pull the trigger and wait in the US?[/QUOTE] Anyone in NJ knows how to pump gas because most of us live so close to PA or NY where we have to do it ourselves. But, it is nice not needing to get out of the car, especially when it's raining or freezing outside. Plus, it's a few extra jobs. On a busy day at Wawa, I can see 8 to 10 people out pumping gas. That's 8 to 10 more jobs that don't exist in most other states.

I like this idea. Barely scraping through a Civil Engineering degree at the moment, I'd rather have to pay back tuition for 24 years than pay a student loan with interest. Of course if this plan succeeds throughout the US, it'll probably be after I'm done with college...

Student loans already don't have to get paid back until 6 months after graduations. This just forces you to pay even more.

Their public education system is still woefully underfunded though. Oregon doesn't have a sales tax so the schools don't get much money and have almost no extra curricular.

[QUOTE=mmmono;41321395]Their public education system is still woefully underfunded though. Oregon doesn't have a sales tax so the schools don't get much money and have almost no extra curricular.[/QUOTE] we have a much higher income tax than most states to make up for the lack of sales tax though edit: our public education is still pretty shitty though, we rank in the bottom third of the country in most assessments. although america's education overall already sucks, sooo

Wow, life in Oregon sounds great! I'll go get my wagon and oxen!

Wow - this makes INFINITELY MORE SENSE than the current system. I will be severely disappointed when he doesn't sign it.

Nice to see that America is slowly but surely coming to this century.

So college students are gonna pay back ALL OF THEIR DEBT in a more easy and slow manner? I don't think it's a good idea to subsidize college tuition with tax payer dollars. I'm only for this program if the debt actually gets payed off instead of just being subsidized by tax payer dollars. BTW, wouldn't it be great if the supply of education increase to meet the demand? Then maybe it wouldn't be so expensive. Economics 101 :eng101:

[QUOTE=sambooo;41320667]Why would you need someone to pump for you? Don't you just put the nozzle in, pull the trigger and wait in the US?[/QUOTE] Yes, however, it is actually illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon. [editline]5th July 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=LtKyle2;41320413]In Jersey we have both. Turning at a red light and people pumping our gas for us. [IMG]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjJ-kXm4rnOoBs3dovYtzPYdoTcMM197sNLIR1OTuPX8sxofgO[/IMG][/QUOTE] Technically, WA has both as well. However, self serve stations are far more common, since it's less employees.