The Myth About "Free College"
New York's Excelsior Law: Not Quite "Free College" During the presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders captivated students by raising the possibilities of 'free" state-funded universities. In her quest for the White House Mrs. Clinton continued to support this idea. However, to many the idea of free college was another example of socialism or something that would bankrupt the states or federal government. Recently, Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law that could revolutionize state financed colleges and universities. The Excelsior Law was hailed as “first in the nation tuition free college for the middle class.” In reality, we all know it is not about creating “free college,” rather it is about cutting the exponentially rising costs of college tuition. The law does not make college free but provides additional assistance to students who might otherwise not be able to attend any institution of higher learning. And, while the poorest familie...