Issue Position: Affordable Higher Education

Issue Position

The lack of investment in higher education continues to be one of our greatest stumbling blocks as a state and a nation. Vermont is nearly last in the country in the amount we spend on our colleges and universities, forcing many young Vermonters to face crushing student loan debt that limits their career potential and economic contributions. Our Reach Up program includes the option of going to college and earning a degree instead of getting stuck in a low-wage job, but it is currently underfunded. Early college is helping Vermont's high school and non-traditional students get job training and free college courses, but it is currently capped and not available to many families.
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Higher education is the number one reason people decide to move to Vermont -- even ahead of tourism -- importing about 5,000 talented young people and professionals each year. Many want to make their home here and give back to our communities. Let's treat higher education like the economic development tool that it is, and let's make college affordable for all Vermonters.

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