Higher education faces numerous challenges today, from rising tuition costs to the need for more innovative learning models. In this installment of “State of Play,” a bipartisan video series created by A Starting Point and NCSL, Illinois Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D) and Alabama Sen. Arthur Orr (R) discuss these issues and more.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the average college tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $43,505 for private school students, $24,513 for public out-of-state students and $11,011 for public in-state students. With costs soaring, states are exploring ways to make higher education more affordable.
Ford says two of the biggest challenges are the lack of full support from the federal government and state budget pressures. Orr points to significant cuts to higher education during the Great Recession that led to substantial tuition increases.
“If we want to grow the workforce, then I think that we should move ed to the front end where people say, We will pay for your bachelor's degree if you come and work here and commit to us,” Ford says. He also points to dual enrollment programs that allow students to earn college credits in high school as a way to make tuition cheaper.
Orr says there’s room to explore more cost-effective delivery models, such as online education, without compromising quality. He also says states can be “more targeted in trying to support those areas of the workforce that are really needed,” addressing professions with shortages, such as teaching and nursing.
Watch the full video.