Included in our national budget proposal for 2016, President Obama plans to incorporate a program that will allow students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher to attend a two year community college without paying for their tuition. Obama believes that this will provide ample opportunities for the lower class to gain more education without being bogged down with life-long debts from student loans.

As comes with every budget proposal, there are pros and cons that come with the program. Yes, allowing free tuition for those who cannot afford it will increase the rate of education beyond high school, but what affect will this have on four year schools? According to senior Natalie Weinacht, “I feel like more people will just go to community colleges so they don’t have to live with student loans for the rest of their lives.” Weinacht’s point is valid, four year schools have become rather expensive and many are getting bogged down with student loans trying to pay off their tuition expenses.

However, this free tuition does open many doors for those who simply cannot afford college at all. “This is going to open new doors for students in that it increases opportunities for those who otherwise wouldn’t go to college at all,” claims Mrs. Probst. When asked if she thought more students would attend college after high school she simply replied with, “I hope.” Mrs. Probst believes that education is a very important thing, but that the level of education needed depends on what type of career you would like to pursue.

Now, what does this mean for high school students who have already planned on not going to college? Keep trying. Although the minimum GPA is a 2.5-which is somewhere in between an 77 and at 82- in order to receive this funding, there is still time to redirect your vision and set goals to achieve your new college dreams.